Europe-based global aerospace group Airbus has entered an agreement with leading US-based space exploration company Voyager Space, which will permit the development of a transatlantic partnership to develop, build and operate a new space station, dubbed Starlab. This will be a commercial space station, in low Earth orbit (LEO), which will succeed the International Space Station, which is planned to be decommissioned by the end of this decade.

A US-led initiative, Starlab will also have European involvement. It will be a continuously-crewed free-flying space station which will serve the needs of the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (Nasa), the European Space Agency (ESA), other space agencies, researchers and customers from around the world.

“We are proud to charter the future of space stations with Airbus,” affirmed Voyager Space president Matthew Kuta. “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. We are establishing this joint venture to reliably meet the known demand from global space agencies while opening new opportunities for commercial users.” 

In December 2021, Voyage Space was awarded, via US commercial space access company Nanoracks, $160-million from Nasa, under the US Space Act Agreement. This funding allowed the creation of the foundations for the Starlab programme. In January this year, Voyage Space chose Airbus to provide technical expertise and design support for Starlab. This selection paved the way for this latest agreement, announced on Wednesday.

“With a track record of innovation and technological firsts, Airbus prides itself on partnering with companies that are looking to change history,” stated Airbus Space Systems head Jean-Marc Nasr. “This transatlantic venture with footprints on both sides of the ocean aligns the interests of both ourselves and Voyager and our respective space agencies. This pioneers continued European and American leadership in space that takes humanity forward. Together our teams are focused on creating an unmatched space destination both technologically and as a business operation.”

As part of the Starlab programme, a European joint venture subsidiary will also be created, to better serve the needs of ESA and its member country space agencies.

In June, the Starlab programme completed a key stage in its development – the Nasa Systems Requirements Review (SRR). This established the baselines for space systems, their technical readiness, and their ability to meet Nasa’s safety and mission requirements. The Starlab SRR was undertaken in coordination with the Nasa Commercial LEO Development Programme team.