A key Senate aide is pushing NASA to move faster on commercial space stations. Maddy Davis, a policy staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz, said the senator wants a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit with 'no gap' after the International Space Station retires. She's been 'begging' NASA to release a key funding request for the CLD program.

The delay matters because the ISS is scheduled for de-orbit in 2030, leaving a potential capability gap. NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program has four companies developing concepts, but it's been stuck in neutral. New leadership is reviewing rules, creating uncertainty that makes it harder for firms to attract investors.

Davis noted a possible ISS extension is on the table, but only if commercial stations aren't ready. Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, helped confirm NASA's new administrator. The next step is a long-awaited request for proposals for CLD Phase 2, where companies will compete for hundreds of millions in funding.