The International Space Station is scheduled to deorbit around 2030–2031 using a dedicated SpaceX-built deorbit vehicle. To keep a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit, NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) programme is funding privately operated successors — and in March 2026 reshaped that plan with its "Ignition" framework, which may have private developers supply modules to a government-anchored hub rather than each flying a fully independent station from day one. Phase 2 awards to at least two providers are expected in 2026.
Vast aims for its single-module Haven-1 to be the first standalone commercial station in orbit, currently targeting a Falcon 9 launch in early 2027, followed by the crewed Vast-1 mission and the larger Haven-2. Axiom Space is the only contender already flying — four private astronaut missions to the ISS (see space tourism) — and plans to attach its first module to the ISS in 2026 before detaching into a free-flying station.
Blue Origin and Sierra Space's Orbital Reef (a "mixed-use business park" built around the inflatable LIFE habitat) and the Voyager–Airbus Starlab (a single large module on Starship) target the late 2020s. Russia plans its own ROSS, while China's Tiangong is already operational and expanding toward six modules with growing international access. Each station depends on EVA-capable spacesuits such as Axiom's AxEMU for assembly and maintenance.