Axiom Space of Houston is to provide at least one habitable commercial module. This is to be attached to the International Space Station.
It is a significant step toward enabling the development of independent commercial destinations. The element will attach to the space station’s Node 2 forward port. It will then demonstrate its ability to provide products and services and start a transition to a sustainable low-Earth orbit economy.
Through combined efforts to develop commercial destinations, NASA is set to meet its long-term needs in low-Earth orbit well beyond the life of the ISS.
NASA will continue to need low-Earth orbit microgravity research and testing. So they can enable future missions to the Moon and Mars. This includes the arrival of the first woman and next man on the Moon with the Artemis III mission as part of the agency’s Artemis lunar exploration plans.
reference: NASA