NASA report examines options for future orbiting national laboratories after International Space Station

Santa Fe, New Mexico A NASA study examines several options for continuing to establish a national laboratory in low-Earth orbit after the International Space Station is completed, but does not propose specific options.

The study, released Dec. 20 by NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy, represents an initial assessment of National Laboratory models of future low-Earth orbit (LEO) after the International Space Station is retired. The study was directed by the National Space Council at its September 2022 meeting and was released at the council’s most recent meeting on December 20.

The 154-page report examines approaches to replace the International Space Station National Laboratory, the official name for the national laboratory where 50 percent of U.S. resources on the International Space Station are set aside. The laboratory is managed by the nonprofit Center for the Advancement of Space Science (CASIS) under an agreement with NASA.

The study reviewed six models of future national laboratories that would use facilities on commercial space stations, known as commercial LEO destinations or CLDs for NASA or other spacecraft. The models provide for a broad range of roles that the government would play, with NASA leasing dedicated space on commercial space stations and the agency providing grants to users who rent their own CLD facilities.

The study evaluated six models using five criteria, ranging from the ability to meet NASA’s needs to equity and accessibility, and used three scenarios of dynamic, stable, and limited growth across commercial low-Earth orbit activities. The study did not explicitly consider the costs of various options.

The model with the highest score across all market scenarios was the “Government Research Broker” model, in which NASA acts as a broker for arranging experimental flights of CLD or other commercial spacecraft. The study compared this approach to NASA’s launch services acquisition launch program. .

The report states that the Government Research Broker provides a reliable option for NASA to continue activities in low Earth orbit under any future scenario, meeting all requirements except stakeholder-driven performance standards. The exception is a factor called market sustainability, as the model may compete with CLD providers in some respects.

However, the report does not recommend this or any other model for future LEO national laboratories, noting that aspects of these models may be incorporated as NASA continues to develop its strategy. The report concludes that no single model alone represents a complete strategy for future national laboratories.

In addition to evaluating models for future national laboratories, the report provides recommendations on how NASA and CASIS can support the transition of current ISS national laboratories. NASA and CASIS could work with private companies to acquire modules or space aboard the International Space Station before it is decommissioned, and purchase materials directly from commercial providers.

The transition from the International Space Station National Laboratory to any future model involving commercial space stations will require legislative changes. While the 2005 NASA authorization act established a national laboratory using ISS resources, and the 2010 act formally allocated at least half of U.S. resources aboard the ISS to the laboratory, the report noted that this requirement was too stringent, especially In the international post-space station environment.

The report adds that once the International Space Station is decommissioned, there may not be a clear need for a national laboratory in low-Earth orbit, depending on the model chosen to support research in low-Earth orbit. The report said the national laboratory designation could be removed from the legislation entirely, or national laboratory intentions could transition to a new model in a post-ISS low-Earth orbit ecosystem that lacks government-owned platforms.

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