NASA is preparing for a 30-year gap in low Earth orbit once the International Space Station (ISS) retires by the end of the decade. To mitigate risks for future trips to Mars, the space agency plans to maintain a human presence in microgravity using long-duration missions on commercially owned spacecraft.
As part of its “Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy,” NASA aims to send six-month to one-year flights to reduce risks and preserve critical operational skills. The strategy, dubbed “continuous heartbeat,” highlights the importance of humans in space exploration.
Key to these missions is reducing reliance on a single commercial partner for transportation. NASA wants to rely on multiple providers, including SpaceX, Boeing’s Starliner program, and others, to maintain its presence in low Earth orbit.
The ISS retirement reflects NASA’s transition to relying on commercial partners to maintain its presence in space. Companies like Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Northrop Grumman are working to build their own versions of the ISS, but they won’t be ready for five years.
Until then, NASA will focus on long-duration missions using commercially owned spacecraft to continue scientific research in microgravity and prepare for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The agency emphasizes the importance of microgravity research in advancing knowledge of humans and the planet, as well as enhancing quality of life on Earth.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/nasa-plans-for-continuous-heartbeat-in-space-after-iss-retirement-2000539863