Category Archives: Living in Space

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitation report – Oct.12.2026

Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.

=== Current space inhabitants 

ISS – 7 occupants:

  • US :
  • Russia:
    • Crew-13: Sergey Teteryatnikov
    • Soyuz-29: Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina
  • Canada: Joshua Kutryk (Crew 13)

Crew change:

From Oct 1st to Oct. 7th, there were 11 people on the ISS after Crew-13 arrived. Then SpaceX Crew-12 – Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Andrei Fedyaev (Russia) and Sophie Adenot (Europe) – let the station on Oct. 7th in a Dragon and landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angles on Oct. 8th.

China Tiangong station – Crew of 3:

  • Zhu Yangzhu
  • Zhang Zhiyuan
  • Lai Ka-ying
Configuration of transports docked to the ISS on Oct.5.2026. Credits: NASA

=== International Space Station & NASA

** Crew-13 arrives at the ISS

— NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 docks with the International Space Station in record-breaking time | VideoFromSpace – Oct.1.2026

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the Crew-13 crew docked with the International Space Station 7 hours and 55 minutes after launch, a new U.S. record.

Crew-13 is NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins (commander) and Luke Delaney (pilot), joined by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov as mission specialists.

The quickest docking to the ISS was made by Russia’s Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft in 2020 at 3 hours and 3 minutes

— NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 enters space station after docking | VideoFromSpace – Oct.1.2026

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the Crew-13 crew docked with the International Space Station 7 hours 55 minutes after launch, a new U.S. record.

Crew-13 is NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins (commander) and Luke Delaney (pilot), joined by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov as mission specialists.

The ISS crew welcomed them aboard a few hours after docking.

** NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 undocks from International Space Station | VideoFromSpace – Oct.7.2026

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts undocked from the International Space Station and begin their journey home on Oct. 7, 2026.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev departed the space station aboard their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft following their nearly 8 month mission in orbit.

** Astronaut Discusses Life in Space with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital– September 28, 2026 | NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 75 flight engineer Anil Menon of NASA, discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview Sept. 28 with St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis. Menon is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** Beyond the airlock: Sophie Adenot’s three spacewalks | European Space Agency, ESA

For ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, her first steps into space were only the beginning.

In less than 15 days, she performed three extravehicular activities, or EVAs, spending 19 hours and 42 minutes outside the International Space Station.

Across three demanding spacewalks, Sophie and her crewmates replaced critical Station hardware, installed a new communications antenna, carried out maintenance, and prepared experiments for future work, all while adapting to the challenges of working in the extreme environment of space.

From her very first spacewalk to leading her third as EV1, Sophie demonstrated what it takes to work beyond Earth: technical skill, perseverance, adaptability, and trust in the teams supporting you.

Last image of Sophie by ‪@Sen‬.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

— Axiom expands in-orbit computation services: Axiom Space, Kepler Ready Orbital Computing for Quantum Era | Axiom – Oct.6.2026.

Axiom Space today provided an update on its orbital compute strategy, highlighting progress on its Axiom Resilient Compute (ARC) platform, a step toward a distributed model for space-based workload orchestration, AI/ML processing, and post-quantum secure communications.

Axiom Space currently operates two ARCs on orbit, launched earlier this year as part of Kepler Communications’ optical data relay satellite constellation and developed with granted funds from the Texas Space Commission. The company has confirmed ARC-to-ARC and ARC-to-ground communications and separately completed a ground demonstration in which a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) encrypted workload was successfully migrated, early proof of securing compute at the edge of the network, in space or on Earth.

“Satellite sensor and operations systems generate more data than communication systems can transmit to ground stations during an orbit,” said Dr. Jonathan Cirtain, CEO and President of Axiom Space. “The capacity to generate space-based data will only increase, and the solution isn’t just more bandwidth, it’s less dependence on bandwidth in the first place, by securely processing data close to where it’s captured. That’s the problem ARC exists to solve.”

—

— Axiom contracts Redwire for solar panels for the first two Axiom space station modules: Redwire Awarded Follow-On Contract to Provide Roll-Out Solar Array Wings for Axiom Space’s Second Space Station Module | Axiom – Oct.5.2026

Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a global leader in space and defense technology solutions, today announced it has been awarded a contract by Axiom Space, a leader in next-generation space infrastructure, to develop and deliver two Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) wings for Axiom Station’s second space station module.

As previously announced, Redwire is also building the ROSA wings for AxiomSpace’s first space station module.

“We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to provide Axiom Space with additional ROSAs,” said Mike Gold, President of Redwire Space. “The unparalleled track record of ROSA supporting the International Space Station (ISS) in low-Earth orbit (LEO) make it the ideal system to provide the robust power needed to support Axiom Space’s global customers and pioneering commercial space station, Axiom Station. At Redwire, we’re committed to leveraging our proven, heritage systems such as ROSA – with its 100-percent success rate in a wide variety of space environments from LEO, to GEO, and beyond – to be a part of Axiom Space’s mission to revolutionize both space and life on Earth via microgravity research, development, and manufacturing.”

Axiom Station will provide a permanent commercial platform in LEO where nations around the world can conduct microgravity research, develop and eventually manufacture commercial products to return to Earth, and access space uninterrupted, through human spaceflight missions.

— ESA and Axiom sign MOU for future cooperation and utilization of Axiom’s space station: Axiom Space, European Space Agency Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Expand Europe’s Access to Low-Earth Orbit | Axiom – Sept.10.2026

The MoU emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and commercial innovation in space and seeks to broaden cooperation for sustained European access to low-Earth orbit (LEO), enabling an evolving space ecosystem.

“The path to a sustainable human presence in space runs through international collaboration — reliable supply chains, shared innovation, and partners who bring real capability,” said Dr. Jonathan Cirtain, CEO and President of Axiom Space. “Europe’s contributions to microgravity science and deep space technology make ESA exactly that kind of partner. This MoU strengthens our work together, and we look forward to ESA and its member states joining us as customers for future astronaut missions.”

Together, the two organizations will explore cooperation on the development of space infrastructure, research, and commercial activities in LEO, including the potential for future astronaut missions onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and Axiom Station and the use of European Cargo Return service and potentially a European Crew Vehicle as part of the transportation system to support operations of the Axiom Station.

** Gravitics

— Gravitics raising funding via a reverse takeover of shell company:  Gravitics is working out details for a $125M reverse takeover deal | GeekWire – Sept.18.2026

Gravitics was founded in 2021 by CEO Colin Doughan, chief architect Gary Hudson and chief marketing officer Michael DeRosa. Over the past five years, it has secured some high-profile contracts for the design and manufacture of orbital carriers and space station modules.

Although Gravitics hasn’t yet put any spacecraft in orbit, several projects are underway. In 2024, the company won a $125 million contract from Axiom Space to provide a pressurized module for Axiom’s yet-to-be-launched space station. Last month, NASA said it would issue an award of up to $225,000 to support Gravitics’ work on a hangar facility for orbital cargo vehicles.

** Max Space

— Max Space receives NASA funding to support development of expandable habitats for lunar activities: Max Space Selected for NASA Funding to Advance Expandable Lunar Habitat Human Certification | Max Space – June.28.2026

Max Space, Inc., a U.S.-headquartered space infrastructure company developing next-generation expandable habitats, today announced it has been selected for NASA funding through the agency’s Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) program. The work will accelerate testing of Max Space’s expandable habitat technology for future human lunar surface applications.

The award comes as NASA and the United States shift from returning astronauts to the Moon to building the infrastructure required to stay there. Artemis and NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture point toward a future defined by sustained lunar operations, surface logistics, power, mobility, science, and habitation. In that future, pressurized volume is not a luxury. It is the place where astronauts live, work, recover, conduct science, manage operations, and build the first enduring foothold beyond Earth.

“America’s next great space milestone will not be a footprint. It will be permanence,” said Saleem Miyan, Co-founder and CEO of Max Space. “NASA’s lunar strategy makes clear that the Moon is becoming an infrastructure mission. Habitats are central to that mission, and this ACO award advancesone of the hardest and most important capabilities required: large, safe, affordable volume that can launch compact and expand where it is needed.”

Max Space was created to solve a fundamental constraint in human exploration: conventional rigid structures do not scale efficiently to the volume astronauts need for long-duration life and work. The company’s expandable architecture is designed to launch compact, reduce mass and packaging burden, and deploy into large pressurized environments on orbit, on the Moon, and eventually on Mars

** Starlab – Voyager Technologies

— Voyager sponsors institute to a science park at Ohio State University that is “devoted to in-space research and manufacturing as well as lunar research“: VISTA Turns Launch Capacity to Space Capability | Voyager Technologies – Oct.7.2026

— Voyager to manage cancer research project on ISS for Symphony Biosciences: Voyager Awarded Cancer Research Mission Management Contract | Voyager Technologies – Oct.6.2026

Voyager Technologies (NYSE: VOYG) signed a contract with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space to manage Symphony Biosciences’ biopolymer cancer implant experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The contract underscores the continued demand for access to low-Earth orbit for biopharmaceutical research.

“Our mission management service exists to clear the obstacles between breakthrough research and low-Earth orbit,” said Scott Rodriguez, vice president, Government Programs, Voyager. “Microgravity provides a cancer research environment where tumor cells form complex, three-dimensional structures that are obscured in Earth cultures, and our role is to make sure nothing stands between companies like Symphony Biosciences and unlocking better ways to fight cancer and improve life on Earth.”

Under the contract, Voyager will adapt Symphony Biosciences’ sample hardware to station equipment, ensure the clearing of NASA safety reviews and manage integration and stowage for launch. From the Voyager mission operations room, mission managers will oversee on-orbit operations like incubation and fluorescence reading, including assisting astronauts in running the experiment. When the study concludes, Voyager will return all samples and data, as well as provide post-flight and close-out reporting.

The research focuses on testing SymphNode, a device designed to restore the body’s immune response under immunosuppressive conditions, recruiting and activating a patient’s T cells to fight their cancer. The study aboard the ISS is looking to replicate the in vitro studies done on Earth with human T cells and tumor cells to assess the efficacy of immune cells that were trained in SymphNode.

— Voyager raises more funding: Voyager Technologies, Inc. Completes $402.5 Million Convertible Senior Notes Offering | Voyager Technologies – Sept.28.2026

— Voyager contracted for two commercial biotech missions on the ISS: Commercial Demand for Microgravity Drug Discovery Accelerates as Exobiosphere and Voyager Add Two Missions to the ISS | Voyager Technologies – Sept.22.2026

Voyager Technologies (NYSE: VOYG) and Exobiosphere today announced two additional research campaigns aboard the International Space Station, expanding an agreement that is turning commercial biotech research in microgravity into a recurring, schedulable service rather than a one-off opportunity.

Exobiosphere’s Orbital High-Throughput Screening in Microgravity (OHTS) platform, a mid-deck-locker-class system for automated drug screening, is scheduled for installation aboard the ISS in April 2027. These two new campaigns follow in quick succession: the first launching on an ISS Program Commercial Resupply Services mission in June 2027, the second in the August–September 2027 timeframe. The two customers span different institutions and different scientific objectives, all running on the same platform and the same station. Voyager Europe will be responsible for mission management under the companies’ existing master services agreement.

“Every one of these missions matters to the researchers behind it, and together they tell us something important about where this industry is heading,” said Matt Magaña, president of Space, Defense and National Security, Voyager. “When multiple organizations with unrelated science cases book time on the same orbital platform inside a single year, that is a healthy market behaving as it should. Commercial research in low-Earth orbit is becoming something customers plan around, and we intend to make that access routine.”

** VAST

— VAST and ESA sign cooperation MOU: The European Space Agency and Vast Build on Existing Mission Collaborations and Strengthen Cooperation for Post-ISS Era | VAST – Oct.6.2026

During the 77th International Astronautical Congress, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Vast, a company developing next-generation space infrastructure, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding collaboration between the two parties and development of a framework to work together ahead of the upcoming end of service of the International Space Station (ISS).

This MoU replaces the previous MoU that ESA and Vast signed at ILA Berlin in June 2024 and broadens their cooperation in human spaceflight, science, technology, and commercialization. It runs for an initial three years, starting with a joint feasibility study of research and utilization opportunities for Europe on Haven space stations, intended to produce a shared roadmap for future cooperation.

— Vast adds lunar habitation program: Vast Establishes Lunar Programs Division, Applying Haven Flight Heritage to Power, Communications, and Habitats on the Moon | Vast Space – Sept.23.2026

Vast, the company building next-generation space infrastructure, today announced that it has established a Lunar Programs division. Leveraging its commercial space station and satellite development heritage, Vast Lunar Programs is dedicated to helping advance NASA’s vision for a permanently crewed Moon Base.

Vast’s Haven‑1 is targeted to be the world’s first commercial space station, with launch anticipated in 2027, and is currently in final integration in the clean room at Vast headquarters in Long Beach, California. By building upon the technologies, systems, and operational experience developed through the Haven‑1 program, Vast is developing a scalable path toward lunar infrastructure, scientific discovery, and long‑term human exploration.

In the coming years, NASA plans to ramp up lunar activity, working with American industry to continuously deliver payloads to the lunar surface and to lunar orbit. Through its experience building large, crew‑rated space infrastructure, life support systems, thermal control systems, avionics, power systems, and habitats, Vast is positioning itself to rapidly meet the demands of NASA’s Moon Base program.

“Vast has the manufacturing capability, flight heritage, and technical expertise needed to help build humanity’s first lunar outpost,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “By vertically integrating the engineering, manufacturing, and testing of habitats and infrastructure, Vast can move with the speed, efficiency, and safety that this national imperative demands.”

Consistent with Vast’s stepping‑stone approach, Vast proposes a hardware-driven roadmap aligned with NASA’s vision for a phased, iterative Moon Base designed to build capability over time….

Vast lunar habitats concept. Credits:Vast

— Vast updates: Crewed Missions | VAST Youtube

Astronauts Thomas Pesquet (France), Aleš Svoboda (Czech Republic), and Adrianos Golemis (Greece) are part of Vast’s first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Launching no earlier than summer 2027, the four-person crew will spend two weeks aboard the station conducting science research. This will be NASA’s sixth commercial private astronaut mission.

Vast is building next-generation space infrastructure, including Haven-1, targeted to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027. The first astronaut for that mission, Arnaud Prost of France, was announced in June 2026. To learn more about Vast, head to https://www.vastspace.com.

— ESA to send Greek astronaut to the ISS via  commercial private astronaut mission arranged by Vast: European Space Agency Signs Agreement with Vast for Historic First Greek Astronaut Mission as Part of the Sixth Private Astronaut Mission to the International Space Station in Partnership with NASA | VAST

At the International Space Summit in Paris, France, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, joined the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, on stage to announce that the European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of Greece, has signed an agreement with Vast for the Vast-PAM-1 mission to the International Space Station in partnership with NASA. The mission is expected to be Greece’s first crewed mission to space, sending the first Greek citizen to orbit.

Subject to Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) review and approval, Dr. Adrianos Golemis, who has worked as a flight surgeon for ESA, will serve as Mission Specialist. The MCOP’s decisions are reached through a consensus among representatives from all five space station partners: NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. Pending approval, Golemis will become the first Greek astronaut to conduct a mission on the International Space Station.

— A description of the human-centric design approach to their habitats:  Designing Haven-1: Vast’s Human-in-the-Loop Approach | VAST – Aug.7.2026

Human-centric design sits at the heart of how Vast builds next-generation space stations for America and its allies, starting with Haven-1, set to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027. Throughout Haven-1’s design and its ongoing integration, Vast’s Astronaut Advisors have worked side by side with our industrial design and engineering teams to make sure every crew-facing system is safe, intuitive, and built for the realities of microgravity. Collectively, those advisors have spent more than 1,000 days living and working in space, and that experience shapes decisions down to the smallest detail.

Human-in-the-loop evaluations are an important engineering practice used across the aerospace industry and throughout NASA’s human spaceflight programs to test flight-representative hardware, software, and procedures with real people, ensuring designs are built around human capabilities and limitations.

At Vast, we’re conducting human-in-the-loop evaluations with high-fidelity, full-scale models of all the systems that the crew will interact with on Haven-1. This hardware-rich, iterative approach to space station design reduces technical risk and improves crew safety, health, and productivity on orbit.

“When you’ve lived and worked in space, you understand that microgravity changes everything: the way you move, the way you eat, even the way you sleep,” said Megan McArthur, former NASA astronaut and a Vast Astronaut Advisor who has spent 213 days in space. “Crew well-being and comfort are closely tied to safety, efficiency, and productivity. The fact that Vast is able to build the spacecraft, test the systems with spaceflight-experienced crew, and train the astronauts all under one roof makes me confident that we are well on track for human spaceflight in 2027.”

** More commercial space station news, articles, etc:

=== Chinese space habitats

** Shenzhou-23 Crew Conducts Science, Health Checks Aboard Tiangong Space Station | CCTV Video News Agency – Sept.20.2026

The China Manned Space Agency on September 20 released its weekly update on the Shenzhou-23 mission, reporting that the crew has continued scientific research, platform maintenance and health monitoring aboard the Tiangong space station.

** China articles, reports, news, etc:

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Check out the
The Lurio Report
for news and analysis of key developments in NewSpace

The latest issue:
Starship and The Industry Turning Point
Vol. 21, No. 2, Sept.28, 2026

Space Frontier Foundation Award for NewSpace Journalism

==================

=== Space habitat designs, technologies, etc

** The Space Show Presents Jules Ross on space station design, artificial gravity & microgravity | The Space Show – Sept. 13, 2026, Sunday.

The Space Show Presents Jules Ross with co-host John Jossy,

Quick Summary: The Sunday Space Show featured Jules Ross, founder of Jules Space Technology, along with cohost John Jossy, discussing the company’s development of Space Station EO, a commercial LEO platform designed to provide artificial gravity and microgravity environments. Jules explained the station’s design, focusing on human-friendly features like immersive rooms, private quarters, and a closed-loop shower system. He detailed the power generation concept using the station’s rotational energy and addressed questions about radiation shielding, assembly, and economic models. The conversation also covered the challenges of transportation to and from the station, with Jules advocating for space planes over traditional capsules. Other participants, including John Jossy, Manuel Cuba, Joe Carroll, and Marshall Martin, asked technical questions about the station’s mechanics, power system, and market viability. The discussion touched on the broader space industry, including the potential retirement of Falcon 9 and Dragon, and the need for frequent, safe access to space to enable new markets.

The Space Show Presents Jules Ross on space station design, artificial gravity & microgravity. by Dr. David M. Livingston

Broadcast 4587, Sunday, 13 Sept. 2026

Read on Substack

** The Space Show Presents Dale Skran Discussing the NSS Orbital Space Settlement Design Project  | The Space Show – Aug.7, 2026, Friday.

This was a Space Show program featured Dale Skran, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Space Society, discussing the NSS Orbital Space Settlement Design Project. John Jossy acted as the co-host for this program. Dale explained how the project uses the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standardization methodology to design the first orbital space settlement, with a focus on a rotating 1G settlement accommodating approximately 1,000 people in the Earth-Moon system. The project has a five-year timeline and involves creating recommendations that would allow someone skilled in the art to build the settlement, with plans for a workshop in October 2026 in Florida. The discussion covered key technical questions including population size, mental health considerations, agricultural systems, and the need for pets, as well as economic models, location options, and regulatory aspects under the Outer Space Treaty. Participants raised questions about collaboration with commercial LEO destinations, building methods, and the project’s potential impact on space industry development.

The Space Show Presents Dale Skran Discussing the NSS Orbital Space Settlement Design Project with Co-host John Jossy. by Dr. David M. Livingston

Broadcast 4572, Friday, August 7, 2026

Read on Substack

** George Tyson, CEO of Orbital Construction Pioneers | The Space Show, Tuesday, 7-28-26

The Space Show featured George Tyson, CEO of Orbital Construction Pioneers, discussing his company’s concept for building large orbital structures using additive manufacturing with bio-based materials, primarily plant-based epoxies and fillers like hemp. He detailed the “First Step” project, which aims to create a rotating disk-shaped space station called Station 520, with initial construction relying on materials grown and processed in orbit. Tyson explained the current research phase, focusing on material testing and 3D printing technology, and mentioned partnerships such as with Exo Scientific for life support systems. The conversation covered technical aspects like structural design, launch costs, regulatory considerations, and the long-term goal of establishing an Earth-independent space economy. Tyson also introduced the Interplanetary Regen Network (IRN), a proposed consortium to collaborate on space development. The discussion included questions from co-host John Jossy and other participants about feasibility, timelines, and potential applications of the technology.

=== Lunar habitation

** NASA Moon Base: The First Six Months | NASA

No aim is too high. No journey is too far. No challenge is too tough.

Since NASA announced plans for a Moon Base in March 2026, work has been moving quickly to turn an ambitious vision into reality. From identifying commercial partners to sending humans around the Moon for the first time in decades, we are advancing the missions, technologies, and capabilities that will help build humanity’s first lunar outpost.

We’re going back to the Moon. This time, to stay.

Learn more about the Moon Base: https://nasa.gov/moonbase

** The Moon Base | Houston, We Have a Podcast/NASA

From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Listen to in-depth conversations with the astronauts, scientists and engineers who make it possible.

On episode 436, NASA’s Moon Base program manager Carlos García-Galán discusses how NASA is building humanity’s first Moon Base and establishing a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. This episode was recorded August 14, 2026.

Find transcript here.

** What Will It Take to Build NASA’s Permanent Moon Base? | Full Panel | Johns Hopkins University on Youtube

As humanity moves towards establishing a permanent presence on the moon, SpaceNews and the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., brought together leaders from NASA, the commercial space sector, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab to discuss how they’re approaching the spaceflight, engineering, and human challenges that lie ahead.

Featured Speakers:

Shatel Bhakta, principal systems engineer for moon base, NASA

Wes Fuhrman, lunar/cislunar technologist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Jaret Matthews, founder & CEO, Astrolab

Farah Zuberi, director of spacecraft mission management, Firefly Aerospace

More about the Discovery Series: https://washingtondc.jhu.edu/upcoming…

** Can NASA Jump Start a Moon Base? – Intrepid Museum Astro Live | NASASpaceflight.com – Aug.16.2026

More than fifty years after humans first set foot on the Moon, NASA is preparing for an even greater challenge: staying there. As the Artemis campaign returns astronauts to the Moon, NASA is building on decades of experience living and working in space to develop the technologies, operations, and infrastructure needed to support longer and more complex missions on the lunar surface.

At NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, teams that have supported astronauts aboard the International Space Station for 25 years are applying that experience to a new era of lunar exploration. From integrating payloads and supporting Artemis missions to developing new technologies and exploring concepts for lunar habitats, their work is helping lay the groundwork for humans to live, work, and conduct science on the Moon.

Join us for a conversation with Taylor Goodwin from NASA’s Human Exploration Development and Operations (HEDO) Office as we explore what it will take to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, how lessons learned aboard the International Space Station are shaping Artemis, and the steps that could one day turn a Moon base from concept into reality.

** The Questions We Need To Answer, The Solutions We Must Find for Moon To Mars | Scott Manley

Last month I spent a few hours talking with scientists at Science Systems and Applications Inc. about their work, both their internal projects within SSAI and their support for NASA projects and the broader Moon to Mars Architecture.

We talk about exploring the moon using spacecraft that were designed to study the earth. Evidence for water on the moon and proposals to study the flows of water around the surface. Space weather hazards. Asteroid impacts and impacting asteroids and why Mars needs a weather forecast if we’re really going to explore it.

Interviewees:
Oreste Reale – Chief Corporate Scientist
Ryan Ihnacik
Nick Gorkavyi
Guiallme Gronoff
Gal Sarid

Sponsored by SSAI
https://www.ssaihq.com/scientific-res…

0:00 Intro
0:24 Chief Corporate Scientist Oreste Reale
5:11 Ryan Ihnacik: Moon To Mars
14:30 Nick Gorkavyi: DSCOVR Lunar Minerals
19:28 Guillaume Gronoff: Lunar Water Cycle
22:48 Nick Gorkavyi: Rivers on the Moon?
27:36 Nick Gorkavyi: Cheylabinsk
30:27 Gal Sarid: DART Mission
37:06 Guillaume Gronoff: Space Weather
43:02 Oreste Reale: Mars Weather Forecasting
52:34 Is Moon To Mars The Right Choice?

** Lunar settlement articles, reports, etc:

=== Mars habitation

** Mars settlement articles, reports, etc:

=== General space settlement issues & topics

** The Next Steps to Becoming a Space-Faring Civilization – Richard Campbell – NDC Sydney 2026 | NDC Conferences

What will it take for humanity to become a space-faring civilization?

Join Richard Campbell as he talks about the near-term technologies that are moving this idea closer to reality. The first problem is getting up there – and improvements in rocket design have substantially lowered the cost of access to space. Then the question – what do we do up there? And how do we stay? And is that even possible in the long term? Why bother being a space-faring civilization?

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

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ISS after undocking of STS-132

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International Space Station: An insight into the history, development,
collaboration, production and role of the
permanently manned earth-orbiting complex (Owners’ Workshop Manual)

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space Habitation Report – Aug.14.2026

Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.

=== Current space inhabitants 

ISS – Crew of 7:

  • US : Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Anil Menon
  • Russia: Andrei Fedyaev, Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina
  • Europe: Sophie Adenot

China Tiangong station – Crew of 3:

  • Zhu Yangzhu
  • Zhang Zhiyuan
  • Lai Ka-ying

On July 14th a Russian Soyuz delivered Anil Menon of NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina to the station.

A group photo of ISS residents on July 14th after the arrival of (front row from left) new Expedition 74 crew members Anil Menon of NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina The second row includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Andrey Fedyaev, Sergei Mikaev, and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. And the back row includes Sophie Adenot of ESA and NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams, and Jessica Meir. Credits: NASA

Until the departure on July 26 of NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, there were 10 people on the ISS, making for a total of 13 in orbit, counting the 3 Tiangong residents.

** Soyuz MS-28 undocking and departure | SciNews

The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft undocked from the Rassvet module of the International Space Station (ISS) on 26 July 2026, at 07:03 UTC (03:03 EDT). Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (Сергей Кудь-Сверчков), Sergei Mikaev (Сергей Микаев) and NASA astronaut Chris Williams are scheduled to land in Kazakhstan on 26 July 2026, at 10:25 UTC (06:25 EDT).

=== International Space Station & NASA

** NASA Astronaut Discusses Life in Space with Naval Academy Alumni Magazine – Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview July 28 with U.S. Naval Academy’s “Shipmate” alumni magazine. Hathaway, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is in the midst of a long-duration mission aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** Sophie Adenot’s mid-mission highlights  | European Space Agency, ESA

Sophie is halfway through the εpsilon mission onboard the ISS, and she has already accomplished so much. Between hundreds of hours of scientific research and thousands of photographs taken from space, she has taken the time to share many unforgettable moments with us — inspiring millions along the way on social media.

“Many thanks to all of you following along on social media, and to all the incredible teams behind εpsilon! It’s been an amazing adventure so far, and I couldn’t be more grateful for your support. Looking forward to sharing the second half of the journey with you all!”, says Sophie.

** Sophie activates ESA’s new space exercise device  | European Space Agency, ESA

Following its arrival on board the International Space Station, Sophie completed the checkout and activation of the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D), marking the start of a two-year technology demonstration led by ESA in Columbus. During this period, astronauts will evaluate the device’s design, operational performance and effectiveness in counteracting the physical deconditioning caused by life in microgravity.

** ESA News:

** Why Can’t Russia Fix The Leaks In Their Space Station Modules? | Scott Manley

We’ve been hearing stories about the ongoing leaks on the ISS for years now, but a recent story highlighted NASA’s concerns with a plan that might have been far more risky.
I wanted to go back and explain the nature of the problem, and how the repairs are more than just slapping flex seal tape over the cracks. An accepted way to fix cracks in thin sheets is to drill a clean hole to distribute the stress over a larger area, stopping the crack from propagating further.

…

0:00 Intro
2:07 AI
3:54 Finding The Leaks
6:27 Cracks
7:42 Stop Drilling
9:19 The Repairs
11:29 Going Deeper
12:58 Old Hardware
15:33 Toppings

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

— Building Axiom Station, a Next-Gen Commercial Space Station | Exclusive Interview | Australia in Space TV

What does it take to build the next generation space station that will replace the International Space Station?

In this exclusive interview from Axiom Space headquarters in Houston, Aaron Tullos, Vice President of Station Engineering, gives Australia in Space TV an inside look at the engineering behind the Axiom Station, a commercial space station designed to operate in low Earth orbit.

Aaron explains how Axiom Space is building on decades of lessons learned from the International Space Station, while introducing new technologies and design approaches to support future space research, manufacturing, and human exploration.

Standing in front of a full-scale wooden mock-up of the Habitation Module (Hab1), Aaron walks us through how engineers test designs, reduce costs, optimise mass and power, and prepare the station modules for assembly and launch.

..

— Axiom raises more funds: Axiom Space Closed Oversubscribed Financing at $525M+ | Axiom – June.4.2026

On June 4th, Axiom announced

the final close of its previously reported financing at more than $525 million, oversubscribed amid growing investor demand.

The upsize reflected an opportunistic extension driven by continued institutional and strategic interest in Axiom Space’s leadership of the commercial low-Earth orbit transition and the United States’ return to the Moon.

The close brought new capital onto Axiom Space’s cap table alongside the investors who anchored the round earlier this year. This positions the company to accelerate execution against its core programs: human spaceflight, spacesuits, and Axiom Station – the commercial successor to the International Space Station.

** Gravitics

— BSV Podcast 0129: Gravitics | Balerion Space Ventures on Youtube

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Colin Doughan, Co-Founder & CEO of Gravitics, to discuss space infrastructure.

— Orbital Carrier Pathfinder under construction:


** Starlab – Voyager Technologies

—  Inside Starlab, The Biggest Commercial Space Station! | Everyday Astronaut on Youtube – Aug.14.2026

Have you ever wondered what will replace the International Space Station once it’s de-orbited? Well, I sure have, and I’ve wondered what will replace it. So today I get to go inside Starlab by Voyager Technologies with their CEO Dylan Taylor to see what it’s all about!

— Several organizations have reserved space on Starlab:

— Starlab picks SES for station communications system: Starlab selects SES Space & Defence for always-on space station connectivity | SatellitePro M – July.27.2026

SES Space & Defence, a wholly owned subsidiary of SES, has signed an agreement with Starlab to develop a communications architecture that will provide continuous, resilient and low-latency connectivity for the commercial space station throughout its operational lifecycle.

…

The partnership will utilise SES Space & Defense’s Low Earth Orbit Relay Services (LRS), powered by the company’s next-generation O3b mPOWER medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellation. The system is designed to overcome the intermittent connectivity typically experienced by low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft by relaying data through MEO satellites to ground networks in near real time.

— Starlab announces new agreements with customers reserving station access for research activities and payloads:

— Partnership with Voyager allows DigitalBlast of Japan to provide gateway services for companies seeking to use Starlab station for R&D: DigitalBlast Signs Starlab Space Station Reservation Agreement | APOC Wire – July.25.2026

DigitalBlast, Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shingo Horiguchi), a company that supports the growth of the space industry and the creation of new businesses, today announced that it has signed a Reservation Agreement for the use of the commercial space station “Starlab” with Starlab Space LLC (headquartered in Houston, Texas, U.S.), the developer and operator of Starlab, and recently held a signing ceremony….

… As interest in the commercial use of low Earth orbit (LEO) grows toward the post-ISS era, DigitalBlast will serve as a user-integration partner for R&D that puts the space environment to practical use, and will work to build itself into one of the gateways through which companies and research institutions in Japan and the wider Asia region can access orbit.

** VAST

— Haven-1 fluid systems:

— Waste handling on Haven-1

— Vast on Fox News:

— This New Space Station Is Full Of Modern Touches | Core Memory

The International Space Station is 25 years old, cost $155 billion, and leaks. A startup called Vast thinks it can build the replacement for about a billion dollars, and it plans to launch the first piece in 2027. In this episode, Ashlee Vance heads to Vast’s headquarters in Long Beach, California for a full tour of Haven-1, the spacecraft the company expects to be the world’s first commercial space station. Vast is the wildcard in the race to replace the ISS, moving faster than rivals like Axiom, Blue Origin and Starlab, and it’s doing it the SpaceX way: everything designed, built and tested in house, from the hatch to the micrometeorite shielding to the actual flight hull sitting next to the cafeteria.

The money comes from Jed McCaleb, the crypto billionaire who believes humanity needs a frontier and is willing to spend a fortune to open one. The building falls to CEO Max Haot, who walks Ashlee through mission control, the hull welding operation, and the numbers that make competitors nervous. Vast builds pressure vessels in six months for under $5 million while others pay 55 million euros and wait four years. NASA showed up in 2023 expecting a science fair. They’ve been coming back every quarter since.

Then NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, who spent 225 days on the ISS, takes over for the fun part: a space food taste test featuring freeze dried tiramisu and tales of trading for duck confit in orbit, the largest window ever flown to space, a zero gravity sleep pod that hugs you, and a walkthrough of Haven-1’s surprisingly roomy interior. Four people will live aboard for two week missions, with a SpaceX Dragon serving as taxi, lifeboat and bathroom. Ashlee walked in skeptical after 15 years of covering commercial space delays. He walked out believing this thing is actually going to fly.

…

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:31 Who’s Paying a Billion Dollars for This?
05:14 Why Vast Builds Everything Itself
07:43 Touching the Real Haven-1
10:12 Space Food Taste Test with an Astronaut
12:49 The Biggest Window to Ever Fly
14:10 How Do You Sleep in Space?
15:59 Is This Really Big Enough for Four People?
20:07 Is Vast Actually Going to Pull This Off?

— Other Vast news:

** Commercial space station news, articles, etc:

=== Chinese space habitats

** Shenzhou-23 Crew Advances Space Science Experiments, Interacts with Robot Assistant | CCTV Video News Agency

The three astronauts on China’s Shenzhou-23 mission performed a haul of experiments and interacted with a robotic assistant on the Tiangong space station over the past week as they were pressing ahead with scientific research and routine maintenance in orbit.

** Articles, news, etc:

=== Lunar habitation

** NASA Moon Base development plan:

** Interlune and Vermeer collaborating on development of groundwork equipment for the Moon: Interlune builds on partnership with equipment company to lay the groundwork for moon infrastructure | GeekWire – July.30.2026

Seattle-based Interlune is expanding its partnership with Vermeer, an Iowa-based industrial equipment manufacturer, to develop construction tools for use on the moon.

The two companies forged their initial strategic partnership to further Interlune’s plans to extract helium-3 from tons of moon dirt and rocks, also known as regolith. Their full-scale prototype of a lunar excavator was unveiled a little more than a year ago.

At the time, Interlune was focused on mining helium-3 and bringing it back to Earth for applications ranging from quantum computing to medical imaging and nuclear fusion. But a major shift came in March when NASA announced a 10-year, $30 billion initiative to build the infrastructure for a moon base.

In this video, Jacob Keeley of Vermeer describes the Interlune x Vermeer space harvester:

See also: Moon Machinery Partnership for Lunar Base Work | Leonard David – July.31.2026

** Vermeer also partnering with Astrosport Space on lunar construction equipment: Astroport and Vermeer Collaborate to Pioneer “Lunar Iron” for Lunar Base Infrastructure | Businesswire/Vermeer – Apr.15.2026

Astroport Space Technologies, Inc., a leader in lunar construction, today announced at the 20th International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction and Operations in Challenging Environments (ASCE Earth & Space 2026), a collaboration with global agricultural and industrial equipment manufacturer Vermeer Corporation to help in the development of autonomous construction machinery to aid in building a permanent human presence on the Moon.

The collaboration contributes Vermeer’s surface mining expertise to Astroport’s specialized work in robotic autonomy and lunar soil (regolith). The primary focus of this collaboration is on “lunarization” of Vermeer surface mining machinery using Astroport’s Universal Tool Implement Payload Adapter (UTIPA) technology, a modular adapter system of interchangeable tools designed for robotic construction in the Moon’s extreme environment. Beginning with a surface miner application, the teams will utilize UTIPA technology to adjust heavy equipment’s traditional reliance on mass and weight, in order to operate in the Moon’s low gravity environment and survive massive temperature swings and harsh lunar surface conditions.

** Lunar settlement articles, news, etc

=== Mars habitation

**  In partnership with South Seattle College, the Mars Society will develop a third Moon-Mars analog research station:

According to the Society announcement:

The Mars Society, through its Seattle Chapter, and South Seattle College (SSC) have signed a 10-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing a multi-program partnership to build a Moon and Mars analog research station on the South Seattle College campus in West Seattle and create a regional education and workforce pathway for the next generation of aerospace researchers, technicians and engineers.

The agreement, signed by SSC President Dr. Monica Brown and Mars Society Executive Director James L. Burk, covers four interconnected efforts: a Moon and Mars analog research station on the SSC campus, a joint space studies curriculum and stackable certificate pathway, a student capstone project and internship program tied to industry partners, and a regional workforce pipeline and community engagement effort.

The Society

… currently operates research stations in Utah and Canada, where crews live and work under simulated Mars mission conditions. This work includes human factors studies, equipment testing, biology and geology field research, medical testing and safety drills. A research station on SSC’s campus would extend the hands-on side of this research, which aligns naturally with the strengths of a skilled trades-focused institution. 

** Mars settlement articles, news, etc

=== Large In-Space Habitats 

** Space Habitats: The Megastructures We’ll Call Home | Isaac Arthur

Explore the future of space habitats, from rotating cylinders and torus colonies to orbital cities, asteroid homes, and the megastructures humanity may one day live inside.

…

0:00 Intro
4:37 The Sunflower
14:07 The O’Neill Cylinder
49:00 Lewis One
57:40 Stanford Torus
1:22:19 Kalpana One
1:28:14 Nebula
1:29:27 Bernal Sphere
1:54:13 Bishop Ring
2:03:23 Topopolis
2:27:36 McKendree Cylinder
2:33:57 Hammer Habs
2:59:01 Rungworlds
3:04:35 Conglomerations
3:38:45 Epilogue

** Jerry Stone – Island Zero, A Study of A First Space Settlement – NSS Space Ambassadors Presentation | National Space Society

Jerry Stone from the British Interplanetary Society joins the NSS Space Ambassadors and gives his first presentation on the topic of “Island Zero,” a large space station providing artificial gravity. In mid-1969, Professor Gerard K. O’Neill put a question to a study group at Princeton University: “Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding technological civilization?”

The unexpected result from their studies was that the answer was “No.” A much better place, it seemed, would be in vast habitats constructed in high orbit, at a special location known as the Lagrange points L4 and L5.

It is now almost 40 years since the original studies were conducted, and many advancement shave been made since the 1970s. There have been improvements in materials science, engineering, computing and robotics, and other areas that can make this program more efficient.

The aims of Island Zero will include:

Living under simulated gravity
Construction from modular units and space -produced components
Growing a large percentage of food in space
Development of a space manufacturing facility

Island Zero units could be used to house the construction force for Island One, the first large space settlement. Overall, Island Zero presents a relatively low-cost means of providing a logical progressive approach towards the construction of large settlements in space.

** National Space Society initiates design of a large in-space habitat : National Space Society announces Rotating Space Settlement Design Project | Space Settlement Progress – July.29.2026

In a presentation at this year’s International Space Development Conference, which took place in McLean, Virginia, June 4th through June 7th, National Space Society (NSS) COO/SVP Dale Skran announced the kickoff of an open-source Rotating Space Settlement Design (RSSD) Project. The initiative has been under active development for over a year within the NSS Space Settlement Advocacy Committee (SSAC) and the NSS Board of Scientific and Technical Advisors (BSTA). Full disclosure: Yours truly is a member of the SSAC. It was officially approved as an NSS Project last March. The content of this post is based on Skran’s presentation, supplemented with subsequent material presented to the SSAC, with permission.

The current RSSD project Study Group core team consists of Dale Skran, Frederick (Rick) Jenet, PhD, and Bryce Meyer, with all BSTA and SSAC members actively involved in review and discussion. Work is currently focused on establishing a foundational set of design inputs in the form of “Questions” (see below). A dedicated workshop to refine these questions will be held at the NSS Space Settlement Summit taking place at the University of Central Florida, October 25th and 26th. This will be followed by a public announcement and formal request for comment from the broader community. In addition, the “RSSD Terms of Reference” (TOR) will be published in the NSS Space Settlement Journal.

…

What is the Objective of the RSSD Project?

The core goal is to produce the first complete buildable engineering design for a rotating space settlement. The project is primarily an engineering and systems-design effort, not a policy activity, although legal and economic aspects are necessarily included because they affect feasibility.

See also: Orbital Space Settlement Design Project – NSS.

=== Technologies and strategies for space settlement

** Additive Manufacturing in Microgravity | Isaac Arthur

The most expensive part of space travel isn’t the fuel. It’s the cargo. Additive manufacturing isn’t a sci-fi magic trick; it’s the key to building shipyards and telescopes at scales rockets were never meant to handle. We aren’t just launching ships anymore; we’re moving the factory to the void.

…

Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:10 Additive Manufacturing Is Not a Printer
8:04 The Physics of Printing in Freefall
12:23 Low Gravity, Regolith, and the “Messy Middle”
17:01 CT Scan
17:59 Printing at Scales Rockets Can’t Touch

=== Other space habitat and settlement news, articles, reports, etc.

=== Earth views from ISS

** Observing Blue Jets from ISS:

** Night side as seen by ISS: 

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

(Optional High Definition feed.)

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

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====

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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space Habitation Report – May.19.2026

Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

A rendering of the spacecraft docked to the International Space Station Configuration as of May.17.2026. The six spaceships parked at the station include the SpaceX CRS-34 Dragon, the SpaceX Crew-12 Dragon, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL, the Soyuz MS-28 crew ship, and the Progress 94 and 95 resupply ships. Credits: NASA

** SpaceX Dragon Docks to Station Filled with New Science Experiments | NASA – May.17.2026

At 6:37 a.m. EDT, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the forward port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module, carrying nearly 6,500 pounds of food, supplies, and equipment for the Expedition 74 crew. This is the 34th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the space station for NASA.

In addition to cargo for the crew aboard the space station, Dragon will deliver several new experiments, including a project to determine how well Earth-based simulators mimic microgravity conditions, a bone scaffold made from wood that could produce new treatments for fragile bone conditions like osteoporosis, and equipment to help researchers evaluate how red blood cells and the spleen change in space. The Dragon spacecraft also will carry a new instrument to study charged particles around the Earth that can impact power grids and satellites, an investigation that could provide a fundamental understanding of how planets form, and a instrument designed to take highly accurate measurements of sunlight reflected by Earth and the Moon.

The mission launched at 6:05 p.m. May 15 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

** NASA’s SpaceX 34th Commercial Resupply Services Rendezvous and Docking | NASA

** NASA Astronauts Discuss Life In Space With U.S. Naval War College – Friday, April 24, 2026 | NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 74 flight engineers Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams of NASA, discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview April 24 with the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Hathaway is a graduate of the college. The two astronauts are in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** The International Space Station: 25 Years of Innovation and Inspiration | AIAA 

In November, the International Space Station (ISS) reached a historic milestone—25 years of continuous human presence in orbit. Over that time, more than 290 astronauts have lived and worked aboard the space station, driving research and development that benefits life on Earth and expands NASA’s reach into space. This session will highlight some of the most innovative advancements enabled by the ISS and explore what’s next for low Earth orbit as we look toward the future of space exploration.

MODERATOR: Patrick O’Neill, INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ​NATIONAL LABORATORY
Michael Roberts, Chief Science Officer, ISS National Lab
Robyn Gatens, Director, International Space Station and Commercial Spaceflight Divisions, NASA (Invited)”

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

— What Comes Next | Axiom on Youtube

“What Comes Next” showcases Axiom Space’s vision to transcend Earth by building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere. Tune in to watch our short film to learn more about how we are building what comes next for low-Earth orbit. #AxiomStation
— — —

Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station – Axiom Station. Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow. Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity’s journey off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit. Axiom Space is building era-defining space infrastructure that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere.

— Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain Explains What Sets It Apart from Competitors | New York Stock Exchange

Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain joins Ashley Mastronardi on NYSE Live to discuss his company and its. competition

** Starlab – Voyager Technologies

— Commercial demand for Starlab exceeds available capacity: Voyager ‘very optimistic’ about Starlab amid potential NASA changes | SpaceNews – May.5.2026

“We were already at 130% of commercial demand capacity spoken for on Starlab, and that commercial demand could translate to a different solution if NASA goes a different path,” he said.

Phil de Sousa, chief financial officer, said that Starlab should start recording commercial revenue as soon as 2027 through activities such as training for future missions to the station as well as converting payload reservations into contracts. Work on Starlab has been supported so far by the companies along with a NASA Space Act Agreement, which provided $24 million to Voyager in the first quarter as it completed four milestones.

Voyager may launch Starlab even without NASA as anchor customer:

Taylor left the door open for Starlab to develop its station without NASA support when asked by an analyst if there was a “third option” beyond the current CLD plans and the alternative proposed by NASA.

“I think we’re very well positioned for CLD Phase 2, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that we could independently finance this,” he said.

— Voyager partners with Rhodium Scientific to support scientific research on Starlab:

— Starlab partner Max Space will provide expandable structures for in-space and on lunar surface habitation: Max Space unveils new expandable space habitat for the moon and beyond: ‘We need real estate that is scalable’ | Space.com – Apr.16.2026

Max Space has unveiled a large sub-scale version of their expandable habitat, giving viewers a real look at how best to offer far greater habitable volume for future space endeavors. “This is more than a model,” said Saleem Miyan, co-founder and CEO of Max Space, based in Florida. “It is a physical demonstration of a new approach to space infrastructure, far greater habitable volume, lower launch mass and logistics burden, scalable architecture for commercial low Earth orbit stations, lunar surface systems, and future deep space missions.”

If we are serious about permanent human presence on the moon and in space, Miyan told Space.com, “we need real estate that is scalable and built for how humans will actually live and operate off Earth.”

— Another customer for Starlab microgravity service: Plastron Group and Starlab Space Enter Agreement to Advance Life Sciences Research | Starlab – Apr.21.2026

Starlab Space LLC, a commercial space station developer, today announced an agreement with Plastron Group, a contract research organization focused on enabling end-to-end life sciences research and manufacturing in microgravity in the UK and Europe at large. Through the agreement, the two organizations will collaborate on expanding access to microgravity-enabled biotechnology and pharmaceutical research as the commercial space industry transitions beyond the International Space Station.

Under the agreement, Plastron will deliver a comprehensive microgravity service model for biotech and pharmaceutical customers, supporting research and manufacturing workflows from ground to orbit and back. The company’s approach integrates experiment design, payload handling and post-flight analysis into a seamless process, ensuring continuity and quality across every stage of the mission.

** VAST

— The Vast step-by-step development of sustainable habitats in space:

— The Vast approach to the design of ground and orbital facilities: Step inside the gorgeous, futuristic offices of Vast, the startup designing the next-gen space station – Fast Company

Vast’s new 49,000-square-foot headquarters, a collaboration between its in-house team and the New York-based multidisciplinary design studio Civilian, does all those things, in a sophisticated expression of how architecture can support high-performance work and reinforce brand.

— Vast partnering with Lithuania for research activities in orbital stations: Vast Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Innovation Agency Lithuania to Support Space Industry Engagement and Scientific Research | VAST – May.6.2026

Established in 2022, Innovation Agency Lithuania is a non-profit agency under the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation and leads the country’s innovation ecosystem, supporting business development across all stages, including space research.

Under the agreement, Vast and Innovation Agency Lithuania will explore opportunities for joint scientific research activities either in the International Space Station National Lab or Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station, launching in 2027. The partnership also includes plans to further develop educational programs in Lithuania and deepen engagement with local industry.

— VAST aims for launch of first station in 1st quarter of 2027:  Vast’s Haven-1 Advances Toward First Commercial Space Station Launch | Orbitalhub.com – Apr.19.2026

Vast, the California-based startup developing what it calls the world’s first commercial space station, announced significant progress in March and April 2026 as Haven-1 moves toward its target launch in the first quarter of 2027. The company secured $500 million in Series C funding in March 2026, led by the Qatar Investment Authority with participation from Mitsui, MUFG, and Balerion Space Ventures.

The funding will accelerate production of the Haven-1 station and support development of the follow-on Haven-2 design. Vast has also expanded manufacturing facilities in Long Beach, California, where the station modules are being assembled. The company’s workforce has grown to over 400 employees, up from approximately 200 in early 2025.

Haven-1 entered the full integration phase in January 2026, with the spacecraft’s major subsystems being assembled and tested together for the first time. Life support systems, critical for sustaining crew members, have undergone extended testing including模拟 long-duration missions. The station’s interior has been outfitted with cargo storage systems, crew accommodations, and research equipment.

— Vast is building the first commercial space stations | NBC News

Vast hopes to be the first U.S. company to put a commercial space station into orbit, eventually replacing the ISS with it’s own, smaller stations. NBC News’ Gadi Schwartz gets a tour of their factory in Long Beach, California, where the bulk of their stations are manufactured.

— The Large Docking Adapter for the future of commercial space | VAST Youtube

Introducing the Large Docking Adapter. The future of space exploration is larger crewed vehicles and space stations. In current development at Vast HQ, the adapter is designed to standardize large spacecraft compatibility.

To learn more, visit: [Vast Unveils a Large Docking Adapter Standard | Vast – Apr.15.2026]

— Vast introduces flight suit for the Haven-1 space station:

Video from Vast:

Introducing the Vast Astronaut Flight Suit. Shaping the future of humanity’s life in space through human-centric design is a core ethos at Vast. Developed with spaceflight experts, the suit prioritizes mobility, comfort, and on-orbit functionality.

Flight suits have played a key role, both practically and symbolically, in aviation and spaceflight history. The design of the flight suit honors that legacy while signaling the future of commercial space.

— Haven Demo deorbits | VAST Youtube

On Feb 4, 2026, Vast mission control executed a terminal deorbit burn guiding Haven Demo, our in-orbit testbed for space station technologies, to splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean. This demonstrates safe, controlled deorbit capability for future space station modules.

** Commercial habitat news, articles, reports, etc:

=== Chinese space habitats

** Tianzhou-10 Successfully Docks with Tiangong Space Station | CCTV Video News Agency

China’s Tianzhou-10 cargo craft completed its status setup and successfully docked with the orbiting Tiangong space station on May 11, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

** Shenzhou-21 Crew Receives New Supplies, Continues Space Experiments After Extended Mission in Orbit | CCTV Video News Agency

Nearly 200 days into their mission aboard China’s space station Tiangong, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts, Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, remain in good physical and mental condition.

** China habitat news, articles, reports, etc:

=== Lunar habitation

** Blue Origin plans to extract oxygen and other resources from the lunar regolith:

** The Unknown Quantity – Dr. Doug Plata— March 26, 2026 | Space Frontier Foundation

The Unknown Quantity explores how capital, and technology shape the future of the space economy and deep tech markets.

Hosted by Thomas Andrew Olson of the Center for Space Commerce and Finance and produced by Better Futures Inc., the show breaks down regulatory risk, investment dynamics, and strategic decision making across the commercial space industry.

Each episode is designed for founders, investors, policymakers, and industry professionals seeking clear, structured insight into how space and emerging technology companies form, attract capital, manage risk, and scale.

Dr. Doug Plata, President and founder of the Space Development Network, is interviewed. The Network is a volunteer space advocacy group that focuses on “the establishment of humanity’s first, small but permanent off-Earth settlement as soon as possible“.

** Komatsu lunar machine project #3 | Komatsu

Here is a sneak peak of Komatsu on the moon. At the dawn of space exploration, Komatsu is taking on a challenge to develop a machine whose line of job is construction on the moon!

The study of lunar construction equipment utilizes the results of research and development commissioned by the Project for Promoting the Development of Innovative Technologies for Outer Space Autonomous Construction (A Japanese government project lead-managed by MLIT with the collaboration of MEXT)

Learn more:
https://www.komatsu.jp/en/aboutus/bra…

See also Building on the Moon: Komatsu and the Rise of Lunar Construction | OrbitalHub – Apr.5.2026.

More lunar habitation articles, news, etc:

=== In-space habitation

** The Space Habitat Diaspora – Humanity Spreads Without Planets | Isaac Arthur

Humanity may not colonize planets—we may build our own worlds. Explore how rotating space habitats could spread across the Solar System and beyond, forming a vast diaspora of artificial worlds that reshape civilization and interstellar expansion.

…

0:00 Intro – Rethinking What a World Can Be
2:37 Why Habitats Win on Physics, Engineering… and Scalability
10:13 The Birth of a Habitat Civilization
14:54 Nebula
15:54 Life Without Planets: Cultures That Grow in Steel Valleys
18:59 Resilience: Fragile Shells, Immortal Civilizations
21:37 The True Diaspora: Leaving the Solar System

** SRIC4 #17: “Building and living in space” with Isaac Arthur | Space Renaissance

This is the 17th preliminary webinar of the IV SRI World Congress. We, at Space Renaissance, are very interested to understanding more on a few concepts illustrated by Isaac Arthur in his online lectures program:

Orbital Foundries & Zero G Manufacturing, Building in Space ( • Orbital Foundries & Zero G Manufacturing -… ),
Space Habitat Clusters & Conglomerations ( • Space Habitat Clusters & Conglomerations ).

All of these topics are of great actuality, in the incoming scenario of the cislunar space economy and the kick-off of civilian space development, a key focus for our IV SRI World Congress. Some of our experts, plus Adriano V. Autino, will pose questions to Isaac, in a broad conversation-interview style. Participants to the panel include:

Alberto Cavallo, co-chair of the Space Tech & Industry Commitee (expert in Energy and scholar of space transportation and propulsion)
Werner Grandl, chair of the Space Tech & Industry Commitee (expert of architecture and civil enginneering)
Jerry Stone, chair of the Space Habitats Committee (father of the Island Zero project)
Adriano V. Autino, SRI, CEO & Founder

An essential bio
Isaac Arthur — President, National Space Society — is the creator of the wildly successful “Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur,” an award-winning weekly science education and entertainment show with over 700,000 subscribers and over 400 episodes on YouTube. The show covers a wide range of futuristic concepts including space technology, development, and exploration, and …

** Space Tech & Industry Committee +Space Habitats meeting #12 02 04 2026 | Space Renaissance

Participants: Werner Grandl [WG], Alberto Cavallo [AC], Walter Hammond [WH], Dennis O’Brien [DOB], Adriano V. Autino [AVA]

=== Space settlement – General topics

** SRIC4 #19: “Space capitalism” with Prof. Giancarlo Genta | Space Renaissance

Space capitalism – Private companies and states in the new race beyond Earth
Giancarlo Genta – Professor Emeritus, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

ABSTRACT In the last years, the number of private actors engaged in space missions has grown, and their importance has increased. This trend is usually referred to as New Space. While this trend has started with economic activities in LEO and in supplying transportation services to Space Agencies, now these activities are expanding to deep space (or BLEO: Beyond Low Earth Orbit) and to space exploration with missions designed and implemented by private industries, and space agencies buying tickets to send their astronauts on exploration missions. The overall advantages of this approach to exploration will be the decrease of costs and times of exploration missions, which will lead to start a spacefaring civilization without waiting long times. In particular, the recent statements by Elon Musk, of SpaceX, about performing a sample return mission to Mars in the 2028 launch opportunity as a test to proceed with a human mission in 2030 are very interesting. Even if there will be a delay, the timeframe for Mars human exploration will be greatly reduced.

SHORT BIO Giancarlo Genta obtained degrees in Aeronautical Engineering in 1971 and Aerospace Engineering in 1972. Taught courses in Astronautical Propulsion, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Design of Aircraft Engines and Space robotics at Politecnico di Torino. Full Professor in Machine Design, head of the Department of Mechanics from 1989 to 1995, now is Professor Emeritus, member of the Academy of Sciences of Torino and of the International Academy of Astronautics, where since 2012 heads the Study Group on Human Mars Exploration. Member of the Advisory Board of the Starshot Project. Author of more than 400 scientific papers, 5 patents and 40 textbooks, research monographies and popular science books. Author of 6 science fiction novels, published in Italian and English.

=== A sampling of space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Earth views at night during the Lyrids meteor shower – εpsilon mission | European Space Agency, ESA

Auroras, thunderstorms, and brightly lit cities streak across this nighttime timelapse captured by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during the 2026 Lyrids meteor shower.

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Associate Ads ===

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====

International Space Station: An insight into the history, development,
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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitation report – Mar.25.2026

Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** U.S. Spacewalk 94 | NASA

Watch as NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir go on a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station.

Williams and Meir will make preparations to install additional International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSAs), which will provide additional power for the orbital laboratory. The spacewalk is scheduled to start at about 8:00 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC) and run for about six-and-a-half hours.

This spacewalk will be the first for Williams and fourth for Meir.

Learn more about the spacewalk: https://go.nasa.gov/4sI2HXG

** U.S. Spacewalk 94 Animation – March 17, 2026 |  NASA Johnson

An animation of U.S. spacewalk 94 scheduled for Wednesday, March 16 when NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will prepare the 2A power channel for future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA) which will provide additional power ahead of safe and controlled space station deorbit. The duo will also swab the outside of the orbiting lab for microorganisms. This animation was narrated by flight director Diana Trujillo.

** U.S. Spacewalk 95 Animation – March 17, 2026 |  NASA Johnson

An animation of U.S. spacewalk 95 scheduled in the coming weeks when two NASA astronauts will prepare the 3B power channel for future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA) which will provide additional power ahead of safe and controlled space station deorbit. This animation was narrated by flight director Ronak Dave.

Join NASA as we go forward to the Moon and on to Mars — discover the latest on Earth, the Solar System and beyond with a weekly update in your inbox.

** Watch the 1st ‘Cygnus XL’ cargo spacecraft depart the ISS after undocking | VideoFromSpace

The first Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on March 12, 2026. [Full Story] (https://www.space.com/space-explorati…)

The spacecraft was launched in Sept. 2025 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and delivered “scientific research, crew supplies, and hardware” to the orbital outpost, according to NASA.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

— Building a hatch for the Axiom station:

— A view of the Axiom station interior:

** Starlab – Voyager Technologies

— Commercial microgravity companies book up the  Starlab space station:

— Users include biotech companies:

— And semiconductor manufacturers:

— The Starlab station has plenty of room for commercial and government customers:

** VAST

— Vast raises big money: Vast Secures $500M in Funding to Accelerate Production of Haven Space Stations | VAST – Mar.5.2026

— Vast deorbits Haven Demo, a testbed for the company’s space station technologies and designs:

— An overview of the Vast space station project: The Stations to Come: Vast, a space technology firm, is building for a post-ISS orbital future | Arena Magazine – Mar.5.2026

— Interview with Vast CEO Max Haot:

— VAST aims for a comfortable stay in space:

— A regulatory step forward towards launch in 2027 of the pilot test station called Haven-1:

** News, articles, etc. about commercial habitats:

=== Chinese space habitats

** Shenzhou-21 astronauts complete second spacewalk | SciNews

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the second extravehicular activity (EVA) of the Shenzhou-21 (神舟二十一) mission was completed on 16 March 2026, at 11:35 UTC (19:35 China Standard Time). During the ~7 hours spacewalk, astronauts Zhang Lu (张陆, commander) and Wu Fei (武飞) “completed the installation of a space debris protection device for the space station along with other tasks”. Astronaut Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章) assisted them from inside the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱) by operating the robotic arm of the China Space Station (中国空间站). Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)/China Central Television (CCTV)

** Shenzhou-21 Crew Advances Space Experiments, Health Monitoring Aboard China’s Space Station | CCTV Video News Agency

Shenzhou-21 Crew Advances Space Experiments, Health Monitoring Aboard China’s Space Station

China space habitat articles, news, etc.

=== Lunar habitation

** Decoding NASA’s New Moon Strategy – Deep Space Updates – March 13th 2026 | Scott Manley

** Jim Muncy on Artemis, a commercial lunar base and more. | The Space Show, Broadcast 4514, Sunday, March 10, 2026

Quick Summary: Our discussion focused on NASA’s Artemis program changes and lunar development strategy, with Jim Muncy discussing NASA Administrator Jared’s recent modifications to Artemis missions, including standardizing on the Centaur 5 upper stage and adding an Earth orbit rendezvous mission before lunar landing attempts. The discussion explored how these changes improve odds for a 2028 moon landing, with both HLS providers (SpaceX and Blue Origin) being encouraged to demonstrate their lander systems in Earth orbit by mid-2027. The conversation concluded with a debate about commercial lunar development, where Jim advocated for establishing a commercial lunar base from day one rather than creating a government-built facility, arguing that commercial solutions would drive more economic activity and scientific research on the moon than a government-only approach.

The Space Show Presents Jim Muncy on Artemis, a commercial lunar base and more. by Dr. David M. Livingston

Broadcast 4514, Sunday, March 10, 2026

Read on Substack

** A permanent Moon Base is now a top priority for NASA. Here are  articles about the development of such a facility:

** NASA’s $30 Billion Moon Base Plan: Full Timeline Explained | Breaking Space/NASASpaceflight

NASA has officially paused the Lunar Gateway in its current form and pivoted its hardware, funding, and leadership to the first sustained crewed Moon Base at the lunar south pole. In this detailed breakdown of NASA’s Ignition event, we unpack the three-phase plan: Phase 1 delivers 21 CLPS landings by 2028 with 4-tonne payloads, Lunar Terrain Vehicles, hoppers, radioisotope heaters, and lunar comms satellites for $10 billion; Phase 2 (2029–2032) establishes the initial outpost with JAXA’s pressurized rover, solar arrays, RTGs, and 60 tonnes of cargo; and Phase 3 (2033–2036) scales to 8-tonne landers, 150 tonnes of payload, ISRU oxygen production, regolith construction, and semi-annual crew missions. We also examine what happens to the nearly complete Gateway modules (PPE, HALO, I-Hab), the shift to commercial launch providers beyond Artemis V, and the $30+ billion investment driving real hardware already in production. If you want the clearest picture yet of how NASA is moving from orbit to the lunar surface, this is it.

** Ignition: NASA’s Plan for The Moon | NASA

Join us as we provide an update on the implementation of the National Space Policy and how we’re accelerating preparations for America’s return to the surface of the Moon by 2028.

The program will open with remarks from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, followed by a series of high-level panels. Participants include:

Administrator Jared Isaacman
Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya
Dana Weigel, program manager, International Space Station Program
Carlos Garcia-Galan, program executive, Moon Base
Steve Sinacore, program executive, Fission Surface Power
Dr. Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate
Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate

More info: https://go.nasa.gov/40QGOtA

=== Space habitat technologies

** Stopping Power! Why Radiation Shielding Is More Than Just Lead Bricks. | Scott Manley

Radiation Shielding is a standard trope in storytelling, and you may well have heard about different radiation types and how materials work differently. However it’s more complicated that you think, sometimes a shield that’s good for one source is bad for others, and this comes down to the physics of radiation interacting with matter.

So here’s an overview of how radiation shielding works and what’s going on at the subatomic level.

=== Space settlement technologies

** How Asteroid Mining Will Power The Trillion-Dollar Space Economy | Trans Astronautica Corporation

Asteroid mining will play a critical role in building the trillion dollar space economy.

In this video, we share more about how our patented technology will allow us to detect, capture, move, and mine asteroids.

Read more about our work at www.transastra.com

See also Asteroid Mining: The Next Resource Frontier: Humanity’s Transition from Planetary Limits to Cosmic Resource | BSV Insights – Mar.23.2026

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Associate Ads ===

LEGO Ideas International Space Station 21321 Building Kit,
Adult Set for Display, Makes a Great Birthday Present (864 Pieces)

====

International Space Station: An insight into the history, development,
collaboration, production and role of the
permanently manned earth-orbiting complex (Owners’ Workshop Manual)

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitation report – Mar.2.2026

Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** NASA’s SpaceX 33rd Commercial Resupply Services Undocking | NASA

Watch a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undock and depart from the International Space Station. The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously undock at 12:05 p.m. EST (1705 UTC) on Thursday, Feb. 26, and splash down off the coast of California at 2:44 a.m. EST (0744 UTC) on Friday, Feb. 27.

This Dragon spacecraft arrived at the space station as part of our SpaceX 33rd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-33) mission. It arrived carrying science and supplies for the crew aboard the orbiting lab, and will return to Earth with scientific data from experiments in low Earth orbit, including tests determining how materials age in space and how microgravity affects brain and heart stem cell growth.

Learn more about this mission and the science it’s bringing down to Earth: [link to advisory]
Follow the ISS blog for the latest updates on the CRS-33 mission: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/

See also: Human Research, Advanced Tech Keep Crew Busy Before Dragon Departs | NASA – Feb.25.2026

** NASA Astronaut Discusses Life In Space With WTOP Radio – Friday, February 20, 2026 | NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 74 flight engineer Chris Williams of NASA, discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview February 20 with WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. Williams is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** Celebrate Engineers Week 2026 with the International Space Station | DiscoverE

Astronaut Chris Williams shares an Engineers Week message from the Cupola of the International Space Station!

This year’s Engineers Week theme – Transform Your Future – is about celebrating today’s achievements and inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers.

Join the #Eweek2026 celebration and learn more at https://discovere.org/programs/engine…

** Crew-12 arrives at the International Space Station | εpsilon mission | European Space Agency, ESA

Watch the docking operations of Crew-12 to the International Space Station (ISS), which took place on 14 February 2026 at 21:15 CET. The docking is followed by the hatch opening and the welcome remarks by the astronauts already present in the ISS.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot flies as mission specialist. The other Crew-12 members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, respectively commander and pilot of the mission, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, mission specialist.

The French ESA astronaut is the first of her class, the Hoppers, to fly. Sophie has chosen the name εpsilon for her mission, which may last up to nine months. On board the Station, she will conduct a wide range of tasks, including European-led scientific experiments and medical research, support Earth observation activities, and contribute to operations and maintenance on the Station.

** ISS does ‘orbital cartwheel’ in amazing time-lapse from space | VideoFromSpace

The International Space Station changes its orientation “before and after each Spacex CRS-33 reboost,” according to NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. This time-lapse shows the orbital cartwheel it performs.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

** Axiom raises additional funding: Axiom Space Secures $350M in Financing to Accelerate Space Station, Spacesuit Development | Axiom Space – Feb.12.2026

Axiom Space, the leader in commercial human space exploration, announced today $350-million in financing to advance its mission to deliver the successor to the International Space Station (ISS) and ready its next-generation spacesuits for the United States’ return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

The financing reflects continued strong institutional and strategic investor conviction in Axiom Space’s leadership position.

** Vast and Axiom awarded new private missions to ISS, continue work on commercial space stations – NASASpaceFlight.com

** Starlab – Voyager Technologies

** Starlab station mockup:

** Voyager to use Max Space expandable habitat technologies: Voyager and Max Space to Accelerate Deep-Space Human Exploration Voyager/BusinessWire – Feb.5.2026

Voyager Technologies (NYSE: VOYG) and Max Space announced a strategic partnership to advance expandable space exploration technology, serving as the cornerstone of future lunar and deep-space exploration efforts for habitation and storage. …

… The collaboration brings together Voyager’s experience delivering mission-critical space systems and infrastructure with Max Space’s high-volume, low-mass expandable structure technology, creating a scalable approach to human operations on the lunar surface and critical to humanity’s expansion to Mars and beyond. The effort supports a growing national and commercial emphasis toward a sustained human presence and operational continuity beyond low-Earth orbit.

“Expandable structures represent a step change in how surface infrastructure can be delivered and deployed,” said Saleem Miyan, co-founder and CEO, Max Space. “Our structure is an evolutionary leap over previous generations, and it’s the only expandable technology with 40 years of on-orbit experience designed into it. Its architecture embodies increased capability, scalability and versatility that are essential for sustained deep-space human activity and to unleash the Lunar and Martian economies.”

See also Expandable Structures in Space: New Strategic Partnership | Leonard David – Feb.5.2026

— Starlab plans for microgravity life science research and manufacturing applications on the station:

** VAST

— FCC space chief tours Vast HQ:

— VAST private astronaut mission to ISS approved by NASA:

—  More about the mission:

Vast, the company developing next-generation space stations, has signed an order with NASA for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida. It is Vast’s first private astronaut mission to the space station in partnership with NASA.

…

The Vast private astronaut mission crew is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the space station. A specific launch date will depend on overall spacecraft traffic at the orbital outpost and other planning considerations. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the crew on a Dragon spacecraft to the space station as previously announced.

The mission will generate invaluable insights into the infrastructure and processes required for Vast to safely accomplish human spaceflight missions. The mission supports deeper collaboration with NASA and international space agencies in addition to strengthening Vast’s position as a candidate to deliver its proposed successor to the space station, the multi-module, continuously crewed Haven-2.

=== Chinese space habitats

** Chinese astronauts create music video in space to celebrate Lunar New Year 2026 | VideoFromSpace

The Shenzhou-21 crew created a music video aboard the Tiangong space station that highlights China’s accomplishments in space. Full Story: https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/…

** Chinese astronauts left ‘stranded’ on space station reveal damaged spacecraft details | VideoFromSpace

Crew members of China’s Shenzhou-20 mission recently detailed their reactions upon finding cracks in their spacecraft’s viewport during the nation’s first spaceflight emergency.

=== Lunar habitation

** Lunar habitation articles, reports, etc:

=== Mars habitation 

** Dr. Scott Solomon talks humans in space, on the Moon, Mars, living in space and our space biology needs… | The Space Show – Feb.8.2026

Dr. Scott Solomon talks humans in space, on the Moon, Mars, living in space and our space biology needs so don’t miss this! by Dr. David M. Livingston

Broadcast 4501, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

Read on Substack

See also: Broadcast 4501 Zoom Dr. Scott Solomon | The Space Show

=== Habitation technologies

** How will Artemis crews be shielded from solar storms aboard Orion spacecraft? | VideoFromSpace

NASA explains the procedure astronauts will undertake to shield themselves in case of a solar storm hitting the spacecraft during flight.

** Broadcast 4504 Zoom: Frank Pietronigro | The Space Show – Feb.13.2026

[Frank Pietronigro] discussed his artistic and scientific research focused on creating living biological spacecraft and habitats, emphasizing the integration of art and science to enhance human space exploration. He highlighted collaborations with NASA and the development of systems to reduce stress and boredom in space environments, while also exploring the concept of biopixels and living cells as programmable elements for future space habitats. Frank referenced historical and contemporary influences, while David mentioned a previous guest who was a former hand surgeon now an architect talking about “living architecture for space.”

Frank discussed the evolution of space art and the concept of biopixels, emphasizing the shift from geometric to organic structures and the need for an ethics of universal hospitality in space exploration. He shared his vision for a dynamic living space habitat and mentioned a proposal submitted to MIT. The Wisdom Team also discussed recent art projects on the moon, including Jeff Koons’ digital sculpture and a digital museum, highlighting the intersection of art, technology, and science. Frank reflected on his own experiences with space art, including a drift painting experiment in 1986 and his work with the California Space Grant Program.

There is also a Youtube video (not embeddable) of the Zoom event.

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

====

====

ISS after undocking of STS-132

=== Amazon Associate Ads ===

LEGO Ideas International Space Station 21321 Building Kit,
Adult Set for Display, Makes a Great Birthday Present (864 Pieces)

====

International Space Station: An insight into the history, development,
collaboration, production and role of the
permanently manned earth-orbiting complex (Owners’ Workshop Manual)