Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space have officially solidified their partnership to develop the Starlab commercial space station. The joint venture, known as Starlab Space LLC, will oversee the design, construction, and operation of the station, aiming to attract customers from both the United States and Europe.

The announcement, made on January 9, marks a significant step forward in the companies’ efforts to reimagine the future of commercial space. Jean-Marc Nasr, head of space systems at Airbus, expressed the joint venture’s commitment to anchoring Starlab to European and American ambitions while pioneering the future of humanity in space.

The partnership is positioned to capitalize on the technical and business expertise of both Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space. With plans to target customers from NASA and the European Space Agency, the joint venture aims to capitalize on the transition from the International Space Station to commercial facilities like Starlab.

Manfred Jaumann, vice president of low Earth orbit and suborbital programs at Airbus, emphasized the necessity of partnerships in the development of space stations. He highlighted the complementary strengths brought by Voyager and Airbus, with Voyager’s expertise in commercialization and Airbus’s technical capabilities, particularly in the development of a large habitation module made of stainless steel, enabling the station to be launched on a single heavy-lift rocket flight.

In addition to finalizing the joint venture, the companies have also completed the system definition review for Starlab, ensuring that the program remains on track for readiness by the late 2020s.