The title isn’t correct. It’s not actually that NASA wants these things (though actually I’m sure they do) but instead congress is directing them to do these things.
this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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This is amazing and all, but I don't want this now. I don't want this under the current administration who will find every way to siphon funds, muck it up, and somehow invade someone over it.
The cronyism feels unavoidable right now, but it doesn't seem like the new stations are as grifty as a lot of other programs across the government. Axiom, Vast, Voyager, and Blue have all been working on their concepts, and even some fabrication, since before this administration, and they aren't just random new shell corps with like Don Jr as CEO. You could argue that Axiom has a ton of connections to JSC and Blue has some powerful lobbying, but that's very different from the scams going on in other agencies.
Let me tell you what that really means. Congress had pockets filled with contractor cash and passed bill. Contractor makes a shady agreement with someone at the top of the program making major decisions at NASA who immediately retires afterwards, that disables the agency's ability to perform at any useful capacity. The reason to outsiders will be based on some bullshit about intellectual property and data rights, but will make collaboration essentially impossible, and will be the cause of failure if it happens. It's almost like I've seen this too many times.
Sometimes if only one contractor is involved, it's not too bad. Get several primes together and now everyone is screwed because everything is a secret.
They want a lot of things. They won't get it.
Not without funding and competent leadership