Starlab space station enters full-scale development phase

The Starlab commercial space station project is advancing into production ahead of its planned launch in 2028. The initiative has reached an important development milestone with NASA, confirming its design. Starlab is a collaboration between the U.S. firm Voyager Space and Airbus from Europe. The space station will feature a service module and a living area for four astronauts or space tourists. It is set to launch using SpaceX's Starship rocket. Recently, the project completed a preliminary design review (PDR). An expert panel from NASA and project partners approved the design after examining safety and other issues. This review marks the start of "full-scale" production, according to the company. Tim Kopra, CEO of Starlab, praised the team's expertise and dedication. He stated that the successful PDR shows the design is safe and ready for astronaut operations. The focus will now shift to developing manufacturing processes and integrating hardware and software. Starlab will have a volume of 12,000 cubic feet and include a robotic arm and equipment for microgravity experiments. Voyager Space aims to secure a contract with NASA to host its astronauts on the station. The project will soon enter a detailed design phase, which should wrap up with another review in 2026. In the coming months, the partners will build a mockup for testing systems at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will also begin assembling avionics, computing systems, and testing new life support technologies. Dylan Taylor, chairman of Voyager Technologies, emphasized the importance of this project for maintaining U.S. leadership in low Earth orbit. He expressed readiness to enhance human spaceflight and foster a vibrant commercial space environment.