The International Space Station (ISS) is the greatest engineering project of humanity. But it is aging. Its first module, "Zarya," was launched in 1998. By 2030, the ISS will likely be flooded in the Pacific Ocean. What next? Humanity cannot abandon space. New stations will come — commercial, national, international, and then lunar. What will they be like? Who will build them? And why do we need them?

The End of the ISS: Time to Say Goodbye

The ISS is a marvel of engineering, but it is wearing out. Cracks, air leaks, metal fatigue. Maintaining it is getting more expensive (about 4 billion dollars a year). In 2022, NASA confirmed plans to flood the station after 2030. Roscosmos also agreed (with reservations). Russia plans to withdraw from the ISS project after 2028. China has its own station, "Tiangong." The US wants to move to commercial stations. So the era of the ISS is coming to an end. But new stations are not far off.

Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS)

ROSS is a project for a new Russian station. It is planned to be launched into a high-inclination orbit (96-98 degrees) to see all of Russia, including the Northern Sea Route. There is nothing like that on the ISS. There will be two stages: first the "Nauka-2" module (formerly "Nauka"), then four more. The station will be visited, not permanently inhabited (resource conservation). The launch of the first module is scheduled for around 2028. ROSS should last until the 2040s. China and India may participate, but so far the project is Russian.

Chinese Orbital Station "Tiangong"

"Tiangong" (Heavenly Palace) is already operational. Since 2022, it has been in orbit with three modules. China plans to expand the station by adding several more modules, including a telescope. The station is open to international cooperation: there are already experiments from Europe, Pakistan, and Kenya. China is also considering the possibility of creating an "international lunar station" (ILRS) with Russia. "Tiangong" will last at least 10 years.

Commercial Stations Axiom, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin

The US is betting on business. Axiom Space plans to build its station by attaching the first modules to the ISS and then detaching. The first Axiom module is scheduled to be launched in 2026. The station will be for tourists, research, and production (in zero gravity, they make medicines and optical fibers). Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos) is developing the "Orbital Reef" station jointly with Sierra Space. Lockheed Martin offers "Starlab". The goal is to replace the ISS by 2030. This will be a market, not a government project.

Indian National Station: India in Space

India does not want to lag behind. In 2025, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) plans to launch the first module of the national station (Bharatiya Antariksha Station). The station will be small, for 2-3 astronauts. Currently without docking ports for other countries, but in the future — yes. India is actively developing its piloted spacecraft "Gaganyaan". By 2035, the station may be expanded.

International Lunar Station (LOP-G)

Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (LOP-G) is not a station around Earth, but around the Moon. A joint project of NASA, Roscosmos (participation is questionable due to policy), Europe, Japan, and Canada. The first modules will be launched in 2027-2028. The "Gateway" will serve as a transshipment base for lunar landings and for long missions. It will be small (crew of 4 people for short missions), on an elliptical orbit. This is a step towards Mars.

New Technologies: Artificial Gravity, 3D Printing, AI

Future stations may have rotating sections to create artificial gravity (NASA's Nautilus-X project). This will solve the health problems of astronauts. 3D printing of parts on the station will reduce dependence on Earth. Artificial intelligence will manage life support systems, repairs by robots. Tissue inflatables (Bigelow) have already been tested, they are lighter and cheaper than metal. Future space stations will be more modular, flexible, and intelligent.

Why We Need Stations (Not Just for Science)

Reasons: scientific research (biology, physics, astronomy), industry (medicines, materials), tourism (SpaceX already takes tourists to the ISS), military presence (currently illegal, but countries are thinking about it), gates to the Moon and Mars, cost savings (you can assemble spacecraft in orbit). Without stations, manned spaceflight does not make sense. This is our outposts.

International space stations in the future are not just competition, but also cooperation. Today, China and Russia are negotiating a lunar station, the US and Europe are building the "Gateway". The new era will be more fragmented, but also more vibrant. Commercial stations will open space to individuals. Maybe in 20 years we will fly to space like on vacation. The main thing is not to forget that stations are a home, not just a machine.

Permanent link to this publication: