The ISS can clearly accommodate 12+ month missions because it has already done so. Yet, no long duration missions are currently planned on the ISS. Why? – because it costs too much money. NASA studied ways to provide long duration missions on ISS, and there were several ways to do it safely and effectively. NASA rejected them all because it didn’t have enough money.
The cheapest way for a "year-long mission" would be ...
Phil McAlister is not holding back, this is a glorious read: No Changes Allowed
So, the requirements, process, you know, it's interesting. It's been a long time since NASA did that kind of deep requirements process. Probably the last time they did it was during Constellation, which was the human spaceflight program back in the early 2000s.And a huge amount of effort went into it. And there was a lot of thinking through of an architecture where all the pieces were optimized to fit together. Frankly, we haven't really done a lot of that since....We tried to do the same thing with commercial LEO destinations, didn't have enough time to get it as far down the road as possible.
The purpose of this modification is to post the C3DO Draft Announcement for Partnership Proposal (AFPP). Potential Participants are invited to submit written comments and questions regarding all aspects of the draft AFPP, see additional information in the attached cover letter.
This modification 3 is to notify industry of Data Drop 3 to the CLDC Technical Library.
NASA is delaying plans to issue a solicitation for the next phase of a public-private partnership program to spur development of one or more new space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) while it assesses feedback from industry.
Modification 5This modification 5 is to notify industry of Data Drop 4 (Uncontrolled Data) & the re-release of Data Drop 4 (Controlled Data) to the CLDC Technical Library. The following attachments are uploaded/updated:120525 Data Drop 4 Uncontrolled Data is uploaded091025 Data Drop 4 Controlled Data was temporarily deleted & re-released as 120525Excel index file “CLDC Tech Library Contents” is updated through 120525 (Uncontrolled Data Drop 4 & Controlled Data Drop 4)
Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD)The agreement provides $273,200,000 for the CLD program. NASA is directed to brief the Committees no later than 60 days after the enactment of this act on its plans to ensure that at least one provider is available to provide services upon the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS).
Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 [Jan 5]Quote from: Division ACommercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD)The agreement provides $273,200,000 for the CLD program. NASA is directed to brief the Committees no later than 60 days after the enactment of this act on its plans to ensure that at least one provider is available to provide services upon the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS).
Quote from: StraumliBlight on 01/05/2026 11:20 pmCommerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 [Jan 5]Quote from: Division ACommercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD)The agreement provides $273,200,000 for the CLD program. NASA is directed to brief the Committees no later than 60 days after the enactment of this act on its plans to ensure that at least one provider is available to provide services upon the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS).So, in 60 days they will decide the winner?
