Voyager Space, one of several US companies to formulate concepts for new commercial space stations, formed a joint venture with Airbus to co-develop an Earth-orbiting research outpost called Starlab. The companies announced the joint venture Wednesday and said they plan to build a successor to the International Space Station. A new International Space Station is being built.
Initiatives for the new International Space Station begin
“The US-led joint venture will further unite American and European interests in space exploration while bringing together world-class leaders in space,” the two companies said in a joint statement. Voyager has been leading the development of a privately owned space station called Starlab for several years.
The Starlab station concept was one of three stations selected for funding by NASA in 2021, alongside projects by separate industry teams led by Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman. Voyager’s work took home NASA’s largest funding award ($160 million) for design and engineering work for the Starlab station through a cost-sharing public-private partnership arrangement.
European aviation giant Airbus is now taking on a larger role in the Starlab program. The joint venture, announced this week, cemented Airbus’s position as co-owner of the space station, after Airbus announced in January that it would join Voyager’s Starlab team.
“With a track record of innovation and technological firsts, Airbus is proud to partner with companies that want to change history,” Jean-Marc Nasr, Airbus head of space systems, said in a press release.
NASA wants to have at least one commercial space station flying by the time the International Space Station will be retired in 2030. According to NASA, this strategy will allow government resources to focus on deep space exploration, such as the Artemis lunar program and eventual human missions to Mars.
Voyager says the Starlab station could be ready for launch in 2028. The entire station will be launched with a single heavy-lift rocket. Kuta said the Starlab team will announce a launch provider for the space station in the next few months.
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