二十年来，NASA主要为了服务国际空间站，一直在努力培育近地轨道“经济”。
For two decades, largely in service to the International Space Station, NASA has sought to foster an "economy" in low-Earth orbit.
二十年前，通过一项为空间站开发货运飞船的计划，NASA试图“激发私营部门的努力，以开发安全、可靠且具有成本效益的商业太空运输系统”。近年来，这已扩展到在轨道上建立一个完整的商业生态系统，涵盖运输、空间站、制造业、旅游业等，使得NASA成为市场上的众多客户之一。
Twenty years ago, with a program to develop private spacecraft for cargo delivery to the space station, NASA sought to "stimulate efforts within the private sector to develop and operate safe, reliable, and cost-effective commercial space transportation systems." In recent years this has expanded to creating an entire commercial ecosystem in orbit, with transportation, space stations, manufacturing, tourism, and more, such that NASA is one of many customers in the market.
2024年4月，该航天机构明确阐述了其理念：“NASA支持强劲的商业太空经济，通过太空工作和研究推动美国产业发展并促进技术发现。NASA仍然致力于培育美国航天产业内部的创新与合作。”
In April 2024, the space agency explicitly laid out its philosophy: "NASA supports a robust commercial space economy that advances American industry and promotes technological discovery through in-space work and research. NASA remains committed to fostering innovation and collaboration within the American space industry."