The transition from the International Space Station (ISS) to commercial space stations presents significant challenges and opportunities for international collaboration. Pam Melroy, former NASA Deputy Administrator, recently addressed the need for ongoing multilateral cooperation in a Royal Aeronautical Society symposium. She highlighted the ISS experience, emphasizing the critical role of established relationships and trust among international partners.
Melroy stressed the importance of maintaining multilateral coordination, referencing the existing ISS model. "We’re all still watching and thinking,” she said of plans for commercial stations. “It’s really about trust, and it’s about the relationships. The great thing is that we have these deep relationships with our partners and we’re beginning to grow them with other, new partners.” She specifically cited the value of high-level boards for medical approvals and architectural decisions, suggesting a similar structure will be necessary for future commercial ventures. A crucial aspect, she noted, is the need for harmonization of space law, given that commercial entities operate outside the current ISS intergovernmental agreement. “There’s some work to be done. There’s going to have to be harmonization of space law because now you’ve got a commercial entity,” she explained. “What does it mean to have one country fly commercially to another country’s space station? We’re going to have to figure out how to get through that.”
The shift to commercial stations raises concerns about cost and access. Some countries hesitate to pay American companies, preferring to utilize domestic resources. To address this, companies like Starlab Space are forging agreements with international partners including Airbus Defence and Space, Mitsubishi, and MDA Space. Melroy also noted the complexity of ISS payload access, suggesting a centralized “microgravity institute” could streamline operations and potentially pool medical data, while upholding privacy.
Despite the challenges, Melroy remains optimistic: “The signals are very clear that the partners want to stay together in low Earth orbit.”