NASA issues long-awaited call for private space stations

NASA on Friday released a roughly 360-page request for proposals for its Commercial LEO Destinations program, the long-delayed competition to develop private space stations that could succeed the ISS as early as 2030. Industry responses are due December 8, with NASA planning to select two or more contractors and make a final decision in April; Phase 1 winners are guaranteed at least $100 million, and Phase 3 would include purchases of at least four NASA astronaut missions. In a notable twist, NASA says it will furnish transportation for the first four service missions, likely brokering deals with Boeing — two weeks after the agency gave Boeing another $359 million to certify Starliner for crewed LEO flights — since SpaceX, the only operational US crew vehicle operator, has not offered to sell seats to private station operators.