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The International Space Station made its debut in 1998, when its first segments were launched, and it is now starting to show its age.
Since 2000, the ISS has permanently hosted a rotating group of astronauts from 19 countries. The station has the only long-lived microgravity research laboratory and has been instrumental in a number of scientific developments, including the creation of more efficient water filtration systems and the exploration of new ways to treat disease. such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
“The International Space Station is currently authorized to operate until at least December 2024 with our agreements with international partners,” said Angela Hart, head of the Low Earth Orbit commercial program office at NASA. “However, as we actively work to continue to do science and research, we understand that at some point the ISS will come to the end of its life.”
But NASA is unlikely to build the next space station. Instead, the agency will depend on technology from outside companies. A few, like Sierra Space in Colorado and Axiom Space, based in Houston, are well on their way to building their own commercial space stations.
Watch the video above to learn more about the future of the International Space Station and the companies working to build their own space outposts.
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