{"id":54958,"date":"2020-01-27T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-457673"},"modified":"2023-09-18T14:00:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T18:00:52","slug":"nasa-selects-first-commercial-destination-module-for-international-space-station","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-selects-first-commercial-destination-module-for-international-space-station\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Selects First Commercial Destination Module for International Space Station"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong> On Feb. 28, 2020, NASA awarded Axiom a firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum potential value, inclusive of options, of $140 million over an up to seven-year ordering period consisting of a five-year base period and a two-year option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA has selected Axiom Space of Houston to provide at least one habitable commercial module to be attached to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/station\">International Space Station<\/a> as the agency continues to open the station for commercial use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNASA has once again recognized the hard work, talent, and experience of Houstonians as we expand the International Space Station and promote commercial opportunities in space,\u201d said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. \u201cI\u2019m proud Axiom will continue to build upon Texas\u2019 legacy of leading the nation in human space exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This selection is a significant step toward enabling the development of independent commercial destinations that meet NASA\u2019s long-terms needs in low-Earth orbit, beyond the life of the space station, and continue to foster the growth of a robust <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/leo-economy\">low-Earth orbit economy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is an exciting and welcome step forward in the efforts to commercialize low-Earth orbit,\u201d said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. \u201cThis partnership between NASA and Axiom Space \u2013 a Houston, Texas original \u2013 illustrates how critically important the International Space Station is, and will continue to be, for developing new technologies for low-Earth orbit and beyond, and for continuing America\u2019s leadership in space. Congratulations to Axiom Space on this exciting award \u2013 Houston is known as Space City for a reason, and I look forward to this great Space City company and NASA turning this announcement into reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The element will attach to the space station\u2019s Node 2 forward port to demonstrate its ability to provide products and services and begin the transition to a sustainable low-Earth orbit economy in which NASA is one of many customers. NASA and Axiom next will begin negotiations on the terms and price of a firm-fixed-price contract with a five-year base performance period and a two-year option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCongratulations to Axiom Space! This is not only a win for Texas, Johnson Space Center, and the International Space Station, it is also a great step forward for NASA as we move towards an increased commercial presence in low-Earth orbit,\u201d said Rep. Brian Babin of Texas. \u201cI am proud to see this work coming to Space City \u2013 Houston, Texas \u2013 as the Lone Star State continues to lead in space exploration well into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developing commercial destinations in low-Earth orbit is one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/nasa-opens-international-space-station-to-new-commercial-opportunities-private\">five elements<\/a> of NASA\u2019s plan to open the International Space Station to new commercial and marketing opportunities. The other elements of the five-point plan include efforts to make station and crew resources available for commercial use through a new commercial use and pricing policy; enable private astronaut missions to the station; seek out and pursue opportunities to stimulate long-term, sustainable demand for these services; and quantify NASA\u2019s long-term demand for activities in low-Earth orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAxiom\u2019s work to develop a commercial destination in space is a critical step for NASA to meet its long-term needs for astronaut training, scientific research, and technology demonstrations in low-Earth orbit,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. \u201cWe are transforming the way NASA works with industry to benefit the global economy and advance space exploration. It is a similar partnership that this year will return the capability of American astronauts to launch to the space station on American rockets from American soil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA selected Axiom from proposals submitted in response to a solicitation through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nextstep\/issport\">Appendix I<\/a> of NASA\u2019s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) 2 Broad Agency Announcement, which offered private industry use of the station utilities and a port to attach one or more commercial elements to the orbiting laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because commercial destinations are considered a key element of a robust economy in low-Earth orbit, NASA also plans to issue a final opportunity to partner with the agency in the development of a free-flying, independent commercial destination. Through these combined efforts to develop commercial destinations, NASA is set to meet its long-term needs in low-Earth orbit well beyond the life of the station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The agency will continue to need low-Earth orbit microgravity research and testing to enable future missions to the Moon and Mars, including the arrival of the first woman and next man on the Moon with the Artemis III mission as part of the agency\u2019s Artemis lunar exploration plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about NASA\u2019s efforts to develop a robust low-Earth orbit economy at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/leo-economy\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow station activities on the station blog at <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">space station blog<\/a>, or on social media at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/space_station\" rel=\"noopener\">@space_station<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ISS_Research\" title=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ISS_Research\" rel=\"noopener\">@ISS_Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=http-3A__www.facebook.com_ISS&d=DwMGaQ&c=ApwzowJNAKKw3xye91w7BE1XMRKi2LN9kiMk5Csz9Zk&r=DjCOY7g3Ql3dG1aBogkWRnB4XogRnuoZFZAyoFHDGSI&m=cnmscJbsVdsCdcsGL_7w5DXEOVDxWnjbKq5QfxwllnQ&s=gf_LecYTrhfTYb0Bk3zz1l8eHTCWDW9UBle7dcWq1B0&e=\" rel=\"noopener\">ISS Facebook<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_ISS_&d=DwMGaQ&c=ApwzowJNAKKw3xye91w7BE1XMRKi2LN9kiMk5Csz9Zk&r=DjCOY7g3Ql3dG1aBogkWRnB4XogRnuoZFZAyoFHDGSI&m=cnmscJbsVdsCdcsGL_7w5DXEOVDxWnjbKq5QfxwllnQ&s=_MEZaY4Yy9o8d6tVPnrbyflOtoJnHcZRMf2DxUzPKPw&e=\" rel=\"noopener\">ISS Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>-end-<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Stephanie Schierholz \/ Matthew Rydin<br \/>\nHeadquarters, Washington<br \/>\n202-358-1100 \/ 202-603-7522<br \/>\nstephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov \/ matthew.m.rydin@nasa.gov<br \/>\nGary Jordan<br \/>\nJohnson Space Center, Houston<br \/>\n281-483-5111<br \/>\ngary.j.jordan@nasa.gov<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Editor\u2019s note: On Feb. 28, 2020, NASA awarded Axiom a firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum potential value, inclusive of options, of $140 million over an up to seven-year ordering period consisting of a five-year base period and a two-year option.  NASA has selected Axiom Space of Houston to provide at least one habitable commercial [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":37351,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"20-007","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2801,8367,2735,2861,2867],"news-tags":[12372],"internal-terms":[12725,3915,11518,9514,9508],"coauthors":[3854],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Selects First Commercial Destination Module for International Space Station","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-selects-first-commercial-destination-module-for-international-space-station\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-selects-first-commercial-destination-module-for-international-space-station\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/issac_from_station_0.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/issac_from_station_0.jpg"},"articleSection":"Humans in Space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","NASA Headquarters","Commercial Space","Expedition 61","International Space Station (ISS)","Johnson Space Center"],"dateCreated":"2020-01-28T02:00:00Z","datePublished":"2020-01-28T02:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-18T18:00:52Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Selects First Commercial Destination Module for International Space Station\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-selects-first-commercial-destination-module-for-international-space-station\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/issac_from_station_0.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2020-01-28T02:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Humans in Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,NASA Headquarters,Commercial Space,Expedition 61,International Space Station (ISS),Johnson Space Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"featured_image":{"id":37351,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/issac_from_station_0.jpg","title":"issac_from_station_0","alt":"International Space Station","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/54958"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/54958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126050,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/54958\/revisions\/126050"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54958"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=54958"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=54958"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=54958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}