Voyager Space and Airbus in new partnership to build commercial space station
Voyager Space, a US-based global leader in space exploration, and Airbus Defence and Space (Airbus), the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe, have signed a joint venture agreement to develop, build, and operate Starlab, a commercial space station planned to succeed the International Space Station.
The partnership will bring together world-class leaders in the space domain, while cementing American and European interests in space exploration.
The implementation of the joint venture is subject to applicable regulatory approvals.
NASA has previously announced that the International Space Station’s operations will end in 2030, after which it will fall into the Pacific Ocean.
In December 2021, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded Voyager Space a $160 million Space Act Agreement (SAA) as part of the US space agency’ Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Programme that aims to maintain continued human presence and American leadership in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The NASA SAA aims to create Starlab, a continuously crewed, free-flying space station to serve NASA and a global customer base of space agencies and researchers.
Sharing expertise
In January 2023, Voyager Space chose Airbus to provide technical design support and expertise for the Starlab project.
Matthew Kuta, President of Voyager Space, said: “We are proud to charter the future of space stations with Airbus. The International Space Station is widely regarded as the most successful platform for global cooperation in space history, and we are committed to building on this legacy as we move forward with Starlab.”
Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, noted: “With a track record of innovation and technological firsts, Airbus prides itself on partnering with companies that are looking to change history.”
In addition to the US-based Voyager Space, Starlab will have a European joint venture subsidiary to directly serve the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member state space agencies.
Airbus is a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses.
Voyager Space is empowering the commercial space revolution with more than 35 years of spaceflight heritage and more than 2,000 successful missions.
Hero image: CGI of the Starlab commercial space station. Image: Starlab Space LLC
