# NASA Commercial LEO Station Program

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nasa-commercial-leo-station-program
> Updated: 2026-07-30T21:07:34.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

In early July 2026, NASA released a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking private operators to provide Low‑Earth‑Orbit (LEO) destinations that could eventually replace the International Space Station. The announcement outlined a shift toward a “tenant model,” where the agency would purchase services from commercially owned orbital outposts.

By the end of the month, NASA detailed its push for private LEO stations, emphasizing the goal of creating a sustainable orbital economy. Industry observers noted that the RFP could be overly bureaucratic, potentially deterring investment, while the broader NewSpace sector continued its rapid expansion, with the global space economy hitting a record $686 billion in 2025 and launch activity surging.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-30: NASA pushes private LEO stations to succeed the International Space Station

NASA’s draft RFP aims to replace the ISS with private LEO stations, sparking debate, while the NewSpace economy hits $686 bn in 2025 and launch activity soars, led by SpaceX.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasa-pushes-private-leo-stations-to-succeed-the-international-space-station

### 2026-07-06: NASA Publishes Draft RFP for Commercial Space Station Services

NASA released a draft RFP seeking industry input on commercial space stations to replace the ISS by 2030, with feedback due July 27 and a briefing on July 9.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasa-publishes-draft-rfp-for-commercial-space-station-services

---
Cite as: NASA Commercial LEO Station Program. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nasa-commercial-leo-station-program