Latest news with #CASIS
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
ISS Conference Scrapped as NASA Budget Cuts Threaten Crew and Cargo
The International Space Station (ISS) still has a few years left in orbit before it's due for retirement, but the future of the orbital lab is looking a little shaky as NASA is forced to tighten its purse strings. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), which operates the ISS National Lab, is canceling an upcoming space station research conference, SpaceNews reported. The ISS Research and Development Conference was due to be held at the end of July in Seattle, but CASIS announced this week that, after consulting with NASA, 'the current regulatory and budgetary environment does not support holding' the annual conference this year. The announcement comes a little over a month after the release of the current administration's so-called skinny budget, which included funding for NASA in 2026. The budget proposes a $6 billion cut to the agency, 24% less than NASA's current $24.8 billion budget for 2025. The budget also proposes reducing the size of the ISS crew ahead of its planned retirement in 2030, when it's expected to be replaced by multiple commercial space stations. Funding for the ISS could be reduced by a quarter, from $1.24 billion to $920 million, according to the proposed budget for 2026. 'Crew and cargo flights to the station would be significantly reduced,' the budget proposal read. 'The station's reduced research capacity would be focused on efforts critical to the Moon and Mars exploration programs.' During a briefing held in late May, Dana Weigel, NASA's ISS program manager, revealed that the space agency had already been facing resource issues regarding the space station before the 2026 budget proposal. 'The station has been faced with a cumulative multi-year budget reduction,' Weigel is quoted in SpaceNews as saying. 'That's the challenge that I've had that we've been managing through today. That has left us with some budget and resource challenges that result in less cargo.' The cargo includes supplies for onboard crew members. For more than two decades, the space agency has maintained a crew of at least four NASA astronauts on board the ISS, along with international crew members from Russia, Japan, Canada, and other countries. NASA has previously flown four or five cargo missions a year, but the agency has only planned for three drop-offs in 2025. 'We're evaluating the potential for moving to three crew,' Weigel said during the briefing. 'That's something that we're working through and trying to assess today.' NASA is also considering extending the duration of missions on the ISS from six to eight months, Ars Technica previously reported. Meanwhile, five commercial space stations, including Orbital Reef, Axiom Station, and Starlab, are currently in the works but nowhere near being ready to host astronauts in low Earth orbit. The ISS maintains a steady presence of orbital science above Earth's surface, which would leave behind a major gap to fill.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vast Signs Agreement to Leverage International Space Station (ISS) National Lab
Strategic Agreement with CASIS® Enhances Vast's ISS Research Capabilities and Private Astronaut Mission Readiness LONG BEACH, Calif., April 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vast, a pioneering company in space habitation technology, has signed a strategic agreement with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS) to support scientific research through the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. This milestone partnership reinforces Vast's commitment to advancing space-based research and strengthens its position as a key player in NASA's private astronaut missions (PAM) to the ISS. CASIS, manager of the ISS National Lab, awarded the partnership based on Vast's innovative spacecraft designs and its forward-thinking technical and commercial approach—elements that are poised to enhance in-orbit service technologies, expand access to the ISS for new user groups, and benefit life for humanity through space-based research. Under the agreement, CASIS will collaborate on initiatives proposed by Vast designed to accelerate advancements in scientific discovery, commercial applications, and space station technology. The agreement also supports Vast's plans to conduct research proposed by astronauts and agencies collaborating on future NASA private astronaut missions. "This agreement gives Vast direct access to the ISS—a critical step as we prepare our NASA Private Astronaut Mission bid," said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. "It enables us to fly science, validate our technologies in microgravity, and continue close collaboration with NASA—all of which are essential as we advance the design of our proposed ISS replacement and solidify our role as a NASA Commercial LEO Development Program partner." Vast and CASIS share a common vision: to broaden commercial and international access to the unique research environment of space as a critical step toward building a thriving low-Earth orbit (LEO) economy. Their collaboration will facilitate research with long-term benefits for humanity and drive innovation in space exploration. "The role of the ISS National Lab is to open access and opportunity for the research community, and those seeking to advance technologies onboard this unique orbiting outpost. We're excited to collaborate with, and support Vast as they ambitiously seek to push the limits of innovation, inspiration, and participation beyond Earth's horizons," added Ray Lugo, CEO of CASIS. Last year, Vast announced plans to compete for the next two anticipated NASA PAMs. That commitment was further reinforced in December, when Vast formalized an agreement with SpaceX for two Dragon missions to the ISS in support of a future bid for PAMs. ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) NATIONAL LABORATORY The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multi user facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. ABOUT VAST Founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, Vast is developing humanity's next-generation space stations and pioneering the path to long-term living and thriving in space. Haven-1, scheduled to be the world's first commercial space station, is currently in development and is expected to launch NET May 2026. Vast is also developing Haven-2, the proposed successor to the International Space Station (ISS), designed to serve NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program as a microgravity laboratory in space. Vast's long-term ambition is to create artificial gravity habitations that enable humans to live in space, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a spacefaring future for all. View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACTCommunications, Vastpress@ Sign in to access your portfolio
