The economics are far from certain though, and competition will be fierce. Even if NASA is able to spur a private orbital economy, there may not be enough business to support multiple private space stations.
from 'new era' to 'far from certain economics'. Any Chinese plans additionally?
All these projects hope to have NASA as an anchor tenant. But they are also heavily reliant on the idea that there are a broad range of potential customers also willing to pay for orbital office space.
The projects depend on public money, NASA as a tenant. So one out of these 4
In addition, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is working with Sierra Space and Boeing to build Orbital Reef,
Orbital Reef is another project by Blue Origin (Bezos), and Boeing ao.
Meanwhile, Voyager Space and Airbus are designing a space station called Starlab, which recently moved into “full-scale development” ahead of an expected 2028 launch. The station can host four astronauts, features an external robotic arm, and is designed to launch in one go aboard SpaceX’s forthcoming Starship rocket.
Voyager Space and Airbus jointly designing Starlab, to be launched in 2028, but depends on SpaceX starship rocket that doesn't exist yet.
Axiom Space, one of the companies vying for this funding, plans to piggyback on the ISS to build its space station. The company will first launch a power and heating module and connect it to the ISS. The module will be able to operate independently starting in 2028. They’ll then gradually add habitat and research modules alongside airlocks to create a full-fledged private space station.
Axiom Space also has LEO plans. Wants to use ISS as starting platform and add modules to work independently from ISS
The agency has paid out about $415 million in the program's first phase to help companies flesh out their designs. But next year, NASA plans to select one or more companies for Phase 2 contracts worth between $1 billion and $1.5 billion and set to run from 2026 to 2031.
NASA LEO program spent 415MUSD in phase 1 (Designs), and will fund 1-1.5BUSD 2026-2031 to operationalise some of them
Development of Vast’s second station relies on funding from NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program,
Haven-2 needs NASA public funding, from NASA LEO program
Haven-2, a larger modular station that Vast hopes could succeed the ISS.
Haven-2 is meant as potential ISS replacement
May 2026, when California-based startup Vast plans to launch its Haven-1 space station
Haven-1 by Vast is a PoC launch, to be launched by SpaceX Falcon 9
ISS is nearing the end of its planned lifespan and NASA’s been clear that it doesn’t intend to replace the space station.
ISS is planned until 2028 / 2030. NASA wants to replace it w market actor project (but does need a permanent presence in LEO) and then focus on Mars and moon projects.
The ISS was humanity's only permanent outpost in space for nearly a quarter of a century, until China’s Tiangong station was permanently crewed in 2022.
This sentence ignores Mir 1986-2001, so 20 years, not 'nearly a quarter century'.
China has Tiangong since 2022.
Page describes some planned market actor launches for space stations
In overhyped terms (speaking of a new 'era' where nothing is launched at all yet)
ISS was approved in 1984, first parts launched in 1998, operational in 2000.