Commercial space station Starlab, which is being developed by the American company Voyager Space and the European aerospace giant Airbus, officially entered the full-scale production phase after successfully completing a key development phase with NASA.
The main characteristics and goals of the project:
Starlab will consist of a service module and a living compartment, which can accommodate up to four astronauts or space tourists. Expected, that the station will be launched in 2028 year on the SpaceX Starship rocket. Equipped with a robotic arm and scientific modules for experiments in microgravity, it will become an important tool for space research and commercial development. Voyager Space plans to enter into a contract with NASA, to use Starlab for long-duration agency missions.
Successful completion of the preliminary design stage (PDR):
Completion of preliminary design review (PDR) confirmed, that the design of the station meets the technical requirements and safety standards of NASA. An expert commission of NASA and partners analyzed the possible risks and gave the green light for the deployment of the production process. Now the project is moving to the stage of detailed design and hardware development, which will end with a critical review of 2026 year.
Next steps in creating Starlab:
In the coming months, a high-precision model of the station will be created for testing, which will be collected at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Assembly of avionics and computer systems will begin, as well as testing: Station software and a new life support system, including the Advanced Urine Processor, more compact and reliable version of the ISS water recovery system.
Financing and international cooperation:
NASA highlighted $217,5 million per project within the Commercial LEO Destinations Phase program 1. Additionally $15 million came from the Texas Space Commission, as well as involved private investment. Starlab is seen as an important project to support American leadership in low Earth orbit (LEO) and development of the commercial space ecosystem.