Congressional hearing spotlights NASA’s new ‘core‑module’ option and debate over commercial LEO transition
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Summary
At a House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing, NASA described a new phased option that would attach a government‑procured core module to the ISS to help commercial stations mature; industry and the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel warned the change has sown uncertainty and that a clear, resourced transition plan is needed to avoid a gap in U.S. presence in low Earth orbit.
Chairman Herodopoulos opened the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing by framing the questions the panel wanted answered about the International Space Station’s retirement and the agency’s plan to move research to commercial platforms.
"The idea is simple," the chairman said in opening remarks: "instead of running its own space station, NASA will become a customer, paying for space and services on commercial stations." He reiterated Congressional direction to extend ISS operations through 2030 and noted NASA plans to deorbit the ISS thereafter.
Joel Montalbano, NASA’s acting associate administrator for space operations, described a newly announced, phased option introduced by Administrator Isaacman. Under that option, NASA would procure a government‑owned "core" module that would dock with the ISS and provide ports and shared systems so commercial providers could attach, operate, mature, and later separate as independent commercial LEO destinations. Montalbano said the approach is intended to reduce transition risk and give industry time to grow capabilities while relying on the ISS as a safe haven.
"We have this commercial option where NASA will go own but procure from the commercial industry a new module," Montalbano told the panel, saying NASA plans to issue requests for information (RFIs) for transportation and destination work, with a final RFI planned in April and a request for proposals in June.
Dave Cavaso, president of the Commercial Space Federation, said many companies have been developing commercial stations and that the industry has raised significant private capital. But he warned that the administration’s recent announcement introduced ‘‘sowing concern and really sowing confusion’’ across industry and investors. Cavaso urged Congress and NASA to proceed with the original commercial LEO destinations (CLD) procurement, provide clarity on acquisition strategy and timeline, and consider indemnification under Public Law 85‑804 to protect providers as the market matures.
"NASA’s shifting timeline and demand signals are having ripple effects across both industry and our investment community," Cavaso said. He recommended clarity on NASA requirements and a stable procurement schedule so commercial providers can finalize designs and fundraising.
Charlie Precourt of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel told the subcommittee that the ISS is operating in the highest‑risk phase of its lifecycle because of aging systems and cumulative operational stress. He identified three resource priorities for Congress and the agency: maintaining safe current operations; ensuring deorbit capability; and resourcing a sustainable transition to commercial platforms. Precourt warned of a "credible risk of a gap" in U.S. human spaceflight capability if the transition is not fully resourced and executable.
Members pressed witnesses on costs and timelines. NASA officials told the committee that transportation costs are substantial — "approximately $2,000,000,000 a year on transportation alone" — and that the ISS program operations budget is "just a bit over $3,000,000,000 a year." Montalbano said exact long‑term commitments will be clearer after industry responses to RFIs and planned RFPs.
Lawmakers and witnesses also discussed how the government core module would function: by leveraging ISS life‑support and other systems, the module could reduce the amount of hardware a nascent commercial provider must field, potentially speeding schedules and lowering upfront costs. Montalbano said that by attaching to the ISS, a core module need not include its own full power or propulsion suite in the near term and cited the ability for attached commercial modules to grow capability while docked.
The hearing record was left open for 10 days for additional comments and written questions. The subcommittee did not take formal votes at the hearing; members emphasized they will press for cost estimates, procurement details and safety assurances before approving major funding or changes to the current CLD approach.
