Looking ahead to the next 25 years of private space stations

Over the past half century, humans have occupied low Earth orbit (LEO) thanks to the Salyut, Skylab, Mir, and Tiangong programs, and of course the International Space Station (ISS). In addition to providing incredible views of the earth These space stations have proven that humans can live and work in space, while providing unique lessons about microgravity and the cosmos. They have taught us about the challenges of living in microgravity and the fragility of life outside our planetary home.

But changing dynamics in the space industry will usher in a new era of private space stations tasked with continuing ...