So if NASA is going to have a diminishing role in space exploration (as a percent of total activity) what does their role need to be?
Remember, it is the percent of total activity not the size of NASA that will shrink, just that commercial operations will expand exponentially compared to what it can do.
Here's a few suggestion on where to get started.
Get out of building rockets:
If they continue to pursue old and outdated rocket technology like SLS until the 2040s and beyond, the are just getting further and further behind the eight ball.
Other people are building rockets better and faster, so just use those and put the money saved to something useful.Buy another space station:
NASA can still have rent-on-demand on some space stations as is the current plan after ISS, but they need their own.
The quickest possible one would be and HLS Starships space station, probably available in 2028 or 2029. Other options could be talk to Vast Space or one of the many other space station builders - there are options.Expand their space training programs:
Move beyond just training official NASA astronauts. Become the go-to place for training for anyone going to space, be it tourist hops, space station living, work, science missions or colonization.
Be the leader.
This then lays the foundation for focus in other important areas no-one else will probably do (See thread for more details).
