NASA Plans To Leave The ISS After 2030 - Here's What Will Come Next
In 2030, NASA will deorbit the ISS to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, an inglorious end to 30 years of international cooperation in space. However, that won't be the end of long-term human space occupation. NASA is already planning a replacement low Earth orbit space station, with three private companies trying to win the contract. Additionally, NASA wants to put a space station in orbit around the moon as part of the Artemis program, though that may not happen with a renewed emphasis on missions to Mars instead.
Read more: These Are The Car-Related Movie Mistakes That Really Bother You
NASA has learned that operating a space station on its own is an expensive proposition. President Reagan's vision of a wholly American-owned and operated Space Station Freedom eventually morphed into the International Space Station we know today, with other countries sharing the cost. Today, NASA favors private companies to meet its needs.
Much of SpaceX's success is due to NASA's heavy investment in the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to bring cargo and astronauts to the ISS. Boeing's Starliner, on the other hand, has not worked out as well. As the ISS goes out of service, it makes sense that NASA would pursue the commercial route with a replacement space station as well.
Three companies have made proposals to NASA for the next American space station. Axiom Space has a plan not only to build its own station but to dock its payload, power, and thermal module to the ISS in 2027. Important research could be transferred off the ISS into this module, which would detach before the ISS is deorbited. It would then become the hub of Axiom Station as new modules launch and attach to it.
Orbital Reef is another commercial space station proposal, backed by companies including Sierra Space, Blue Origin, and Boeing. It proposes "a mixed-use business park in space," focused on research, commercial purposes, and even tourism. Starlab is the third proposal, with involvement from Voyager, Airbus, and Mitsubishi.
NASA also has space station plans beyond low Earth orbit. An important aspect of the Artemis program involves putting the Gateway space station into orbit not around the Earth, but around the moon. The Orion capsule will dock here, where astronauts will spend their time in lunar orbit rather than crammed into a small capsule as in the past. This is also where astronauts will transfer to the Human Landing System for trips to the lunar surface.
Gateway will function rather like the ISS, except in lunar orbit. NASA oversees the project and flies astronauts there on Artemis missions. Europe and Japan will supply some of the station's modules, the United Arab Emirates will provide an airlock, and Canada will provide a new Canadarm similar to that used on the ISS and Space Shuttle. Gateway's first habitation module, HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost), has already been built in Italy and delivered to a Northrop Grumman facility in Arizona for further testing and preparation.
However, long-term projects such as Artemis are vulnerable to short-term political goals. Thanks to huge cuts to NASA's budget, the entire Artemis program, including Gateway, is in danger of being canceled. This was originally to prioritize a manned Mars mission, but President Trump's on-again, off-again relationship with Elon Musk may mean the Mars shot could get canceled as well.
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CNN
11 minutes ago
- CNN
Fact check: Debunking 11 of Trump's false claims at Cabinet meeting
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Forbes
12 minutes ago
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The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Is Live: See Our Favorite Deals So Far
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Fast Company
12 minutes ago
- Fast Company
‘No Tax on Tips' is now the law: What workers should know about timeline, how paychecks will be impacted
The ' No Tax on Tips ' provision, passed and signed into law on July 4 as part of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allows eligible tipped workers to deduct a portion of their income from tips on their federal income taxes. There is a catch: It's only a temporary provision, expiring in 2028 when Trump leaves office at the end of his second term. But the good news is that eligible workers can start deducting up to $25,000 of reported tip income for their upcoming 2025 tax year. Here's what else to know. How 'No Tax on Tips' affects tax filing and paychecks This is a deduction, not an exemption, which means tipped workers will still need to report their tips when filing their taxes, instead of having the tips automatically taken out of taxable income, per Kiplinger. The No Tax on Tips provision also does not eliminate payroll taxes (like Social Security and Medicare) on tips, so you'll still need to pay those. Who qualifies for 'No Tax on Tips'? The No Tax on Tips deduction applies for those earning income up to $150,000 a year, or $300,000 for joint filers, which will be adjusted each year for inflation. Furthermore, it applies for 'customarily tipped' workers. The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have yet to issue guidance on which jobs and occupations qualify, so stay tuned. However, the bill is likely to apply to workers that rely on tips, such as hair stylists, nail techs, restaurant servers, and bartenders, per Kiplinger. As Fast Company previously reported, No Tax on Tips also expands the business tax credit for the portion of payroll taxes that an employer pays on certain tips, to include payroll taxes paid on tips received in connection with certain beauty services, just like for restaurants. No tax on overtime pay Finally, the No Tax on Tips provision also applies to overtime pay, and a deduction will be available to eligible taxpayers regardless of whether they itemize. However, filers will have to provide their Social Security number on their 1040 form (or that of their spouse when filing jointly) in order to claim the deduction.
