China launched the first module back in April 2021 and has been continuously inhabited by astronauts since November 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s service life is meant to be over 15 years, so Tiangong has a long to go yet.<\/p>\n
China will be hoping to lead the space skies with the ISS gone \u2013 though recent issues with stranded astronauts may not help their case\u2026<\/p>\n
#2 Axiom space station<\/p>\n
The Axiom module comes equipped with a research labCredit: Axiom Space<\/p>\n
The Axiom space station<\/a> is of the projects that has had funding from Nasa to replace the ISS.<\/p>\n It will become the world\u2019s first commercial space station for billionaire tourists \u2013 as well as housing scientific research facilities.<\/p>\n The first payload is scheduled to launch in 2027, when it will hook up to the ISS to provide power and thermal capacity.<\/p>\n #3 Orbital Reef<\/p>\n A look inside Orbital Reef<\/p>\n Orbital Reef<\/a> is an effort led by Jeff Bezos<\/a>\u2018 Blue Origin and Sierra Space sold as a \u201cmixed-use business park\u201d.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be home to a\u00a0science\u00a0lab, a hotel for tourists, and much more.<\/p>\n Design images of the inside have already teased a fancy living space for those onboard.<\/p>\n \u201cThink spacious modules with large windows to view Earth, our blue origin, while experiencing the thrill of weightlessness in complete comfort,\u201d Blue Origin says.<\/p>\n #4 Starlab<\/p>\n Starlab<\/a> is another contender, with hotel chain Hilton on board to come up with designs for the interior.<\/p>\n Relaxation pods and an above-Earth gym are among the luxury amenities being planned \u2013 though it won\u2019t be open to space tourists.<\/p>\n It\u2019s expected to launch as soon as 2028.<\/p>\n Other contenders<\/p>\n India is working on its own space efforts with the ISRO Space Station, but it\u2019s not expected to be completed until about 2035.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t CHILLING TWIST<\/p>\n Teen suspect was ‘drinking on cruise before step-sister cheerleader’s death’<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t SPEED TRAP?<\/p>\n New ‘automatic’ $340 speeding fine sparks major u-turn & drivers need take note<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n Airbus LOOP is Europe\u2019s answer with three levels \u2013 but it\u2019s only in the design stages at the moment.<\/p>\n And there\u2019s a joint effort from the US, Europe, Japan and Canada called Gateway\u00a0too \u2013 it was almost cancelled this year due to Nasa budget changes before being saved. It\u2019s set to launch in 2027.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tHot competition\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe ISS has been orbiting Earth since 1998 – but nothing within Earth’s orbit can stay in space forever.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n The station will continue working until 2030, before plunging into the Pacific Ocean in early 2031, according to Nasa.<\/p>\n In December 2021, the US space agency announced it was awarding a total of\u00a0$415million (\u00a3326million) to three different companies\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Blue Origin, Nanoracks (plus Voyager Space) and Northrop Grumman \u2014 to help cement their commercial space station concepts.<\/p>\n Nasa also has separate agreements with Vast and Texas-based Axiom Space, which is working on its own private outpost as well as a new series of spacesuits.<\/a><\/p>\n Northtop Grumman had initially had its own plans for a space station when Nasa funded it.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763991681_888_JA_Kepner_Suspect_COMP.jpg\"\/)
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763991681_418_JA_Speeding_Fine_COMP.jpg\"\/)
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/international-space-station-outer-space-762217283.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n