The landscape of low Earth orbit (LEO) stations is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by innovative commercial initiatives. NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program is at the forefront of this shift, aiming to transition from the International Space Station (ISS) to commercially operated stations by 2030. This strategy is designed to maintain continuous human presence in orbit, ensuring the continuation of vital microgravity research and exploration activities. nasa.gov
Several private companies are actively developing LEO stations to meet this demand. A notable example is Starlab, a collaboration between Voyager Space and Airbus, which plans to launch its station in 2028. Starlab aims to provide a versatile platform for scientific research, technology development, and commercial activities in space. en.wikipedia.org Similarly, Axiom Space is working on a series of commercial modules that will initially attach to the ISS, with plans to eventually operate independently as a free-flying station. nasaspaceflight.com