NASA Awards Next 2 Private Astronaut Missions to International Space Station

Axiom Space and Vast will each have the opportunity to organize 14-day missions aboard the orbiting outpost in 2027.

In this image from video, the 11 International Space Station crew members representing Expedition 70 (red shirts) and Axiom Space 3 (dark blue suits) crews gather for a farewell ceremony calling down to mission controllers on Earth on Feb. 2, 2024. NASA via AP

NASA has awarded its next two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS) in as many weeks, marking a further expansion of the private sector in low Earth orbit and continuing Administrator Jared Isaacman’s intention to make the most use of the orbiting outpost.

The latest mission was awarded to private space station company Vast.