NASA faces a $4 billion shortfall in funding for commercial space stations to replace the aging International Space Station (ISS), set to deorbit in 2028. The ISS's retirement leaves a gap in low-Earth orbit capabilities. Acting Administrator Sean Duffy issued a new directive altering the previous plan, which involved a competitive process selecting one or two companies. The revised strategy aims to address the budget deficit and ensure a timely replacement for the ISS, though concerns remain about the feasibility of completing new stations by 2028.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.