Midterms in the Fall 2026 USC Astro Studio
Fall 2026 Topic Focus – COAST: Commercial CisLunar Orbital Amateur Astronaut Space Tourism
The International Space Station is set for decommission at the end of this decade. The current US policy has a mandate to include Space Tourism in the facility manifest before retirement. The Artemis II mission has proven the capability of the SLS and Orion spacecraft to safely carry crew and return them safely back to Earth. And the advanced SLS evolution program, the Commercial LEO Destinations and the Lunar Gateway program are all being revised and reconfigured to align with administration’s lunar return expediency mandate. NASA contracts, not focused on expediency are being terminated or reassigned.
The USC graduate Astro Studio COAST project recommends a phased approach to permanent lunar development, minimizing long term development and low Technological Readiness Level (TRL) elements in favor of flight certified and flight ready elements or those at high Operational Readiness Level (ORL).
A Cislunar Cycler architecture has been proposed as a sturdy framework to support lunar logistics, and celestial mechanics allows the International Space Station to be a prominent element this proposed COAST concept architecture. It is possible for space tourists to visit the ISS, and as celestial alignment occurs, to depart and return from lunar orbit. Lunar surface activities can evolve from this open architecture providing ample time for lunar surface infrastructure elements to mature and be certified for human operations on the Moon.
This 21st century paradigm shift at NASA from one-off programs and projects like Apollo and ISS is what differentiates the permanent lunar return effort underway, and this COAST project offers a catalyst architecture to set a sturdy foundation to accomplish this complex task