Nebex CEO: NASA wants a commercial space economy. Here’s how it can enable one

In July, SpaceX limited new rideshare bookings beyond late 2028. In October, NASA unveiled a request for proposals for commercial space stations to replace the ISS. This combination creates a significant challenge for "new space" startups who built their business models around cheap rides to orbit. While other companies exist, options are limited and uncertain.

Rocket Lab's Electron offers small satellite launches, while ULA's Vulcan and Blue Origin's New Glenn serve larger payloads, though both are grounded. New competitors are emerging, but most are unproven. Despite this, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman clarified that government subsidies alone won't solve the issue. Instead, a true commercial space economy requires market infrastructure and business model innovation from both the private sector and government.

NASA can structure its programs to shape this market, such as penalizing bidders that rely heavily on taxpayer funds and rewarding those with outside commercial and sovereign revenue. By streamlining the supplier vetting process, placing a premium on reciprocal commitments from partners, and partnering with market infrastructure providers, NASA can help overcome the capital-intensive nature of space development and create a viable alternative to the current ISS.