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Axiom Space Planned Commercial Station Modules for 2028

Houston-based Axiom Space has scheduled two station module launches to secure orbital capacity before the ISS retires.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Space

Bold flat-color illustration of a geometric space station module floating in space, evoking industrial infrastructure development.
Axiom Space has scheduled two station module launches for 2028 and 2029, part of a strategy to provide orbital research capacity as the International Space Station nears retirement. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should private companies lead the development of future space stations instead of government agencies?

Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain announced plans to operate a commercial space station by 2030, the year the International Space Station is scheduled to retire. The Houston-based firm aims to launch its initial two station modules in 2028 and 2029.

Why it matters

NASA has signaled a transition toward procuring commercial orbital services rather than building a direct government-funded successor to the International Space Station. This shift necessitates private infrastructure to sustain research in fields like pharmaceutical crystal growth.

Axiom Space intends to leverage private capital to fund the manufacture of station hardware. This follows the firm's experience with four private astronaut missions to the International Space Station.

The players

Axiom Space

A Houston-based commercial space firm that manages private astronaut missions and develops infrastructure for low Earth orbit.

Jonathan Cirtain

The current CEO of Axiom Space who took office in October 2025.

NASA

The U.S. government agency responsible for civil space programs and procurement of commercial space station services.

Merck

A global pharmaceutical company that has utilized the International Space Station for drug development research since 2014.

The details

The company utilizes university collaborations to translate ground-based experiments, such as those performed by Merck on the International Space Station since 2014, into orbital payloads. By leveraging microgravity, researchers produce crystals with structural advantages for drug development that are difficult to achieve on Earth. Axiom Space is currently applying this logistics expertise while simultaneously developing new spacesuits for NASA.

Timeline

  1. 2024: Alper Gezeravci flew on the Ax-3 mission.

  2. January 2025: Axiom Space and Turkish Space Agency signed a cooperation agreement.

  3. October 2025: Jonathan Cirtain became CEO of Axiom Space.

  4. Spring 2027: NASA target for contract awards.

  5. 2030: International Space Station retirement.

The Tech Race

Axiom Space is positioning its modular infrastructure as a primary successor to the International Space Station. The company faces a competitive landscape as NASA prepares to award commercial space station service contracts in the coming years.

The transition to commercial stations aims to provide continuous access for researchers currently utilizing the International Space Station. These facilities will enable ongoing development of advanced therapeutics, such as those derived from space-grown crystals, in a post-ISS environment.

The takeaway

The ability to sustain microgravity research hinges on the successful launch of private modules before the International Space Station concludes its mission. Observers should track the NASA contract awards scheduled for spring 2027 as a key indicator of commercial viability.

Further reading

For more updates on commercial orbital initiatives, visit Space.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Anadolu Ajansı.

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Should private companies lead the development of future space stations instead of government agencies?