Congress extends ISS and tells NASA to get moving on private space stations

Congress extended the International Space Station's lifespan from 2030 to 2032 amid concerns that private space companies won't have commercial stations ready by the original retirement date. The legislation requires NASA to delay deorbiting the ISS until at least one commercial space station reaches operational capability, ensuring continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit. Companies like Axiom Space and Vast welcomed the extension, with Vast expressing confidence they could support operations by late 2030 if NASA awards contracts this year.