What is the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Economy?
One of NASA’s strategic goals is to “Develop a human spaceflight economy enabled by a commercial market.”
Learn MoreCommercial Destinations in Low Earth Orbit
NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program is supporting the development of commercially owned and operated low Earth orbit destinations.
Learn More about Commercial Destinations in Low Earth Orbit![This view of Earth was captured from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft as it approached the International Space Station. Pictured below is the Strait of Gibraltar that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, which separates the continents of Europe and Africa.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/iss069e086297-earthviewfromdragon.jpg?w=2048)
Private Astronaut Missions
In 2019, NASA kicked off a strategy to enable a vibrant low Earth orbit economy which included offering flight opportunities for commercial providers to utilize the International Space Station (ISS) as a destination for private astronaut missions.
Learn More![female astronaut floats into the space station shortly after arrival](https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/iss069e013989/iss069e013989~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint)
NASA
Commercial Use of the International Space Station
NASA is laying the foundation for America to maintain a human presence in low Earth orbit in which one day NASA will become one of many customers in a robust commercial marketplace.
Learn More about Commercial Use of the International Space Station![International Space Station with Earth in the background](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/44911459904-375bc02163-k-0.jpg?w=2048)
In Space Production Applications
NASA’s In Space Production Applications portfolio will leverage more than two decades of results from the International Space Station by continuing to demonstrate the benefits of microgravity for the development of new commercial technologies and products that have the potential to strengthen national security and improve the quality of life on Earth for people everywhere.
Learn More![image of red bubbles in experiment hardware](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/iss038e012659-cfe.jpg?w=1024)