Crewed Commercial Space Station Planned by 2027 - NanoRacks, Lockheed Martin & Voyager

A New Era in Space Stations: Starlab

For some time, NASA has been advocating for the private sector to develop a commercial replacement for the International Space Station (ISS) as it nears the end of its operational life. While Axiom Space has previously announced plans for such a successor, a new partnership has emerged.

This consortium, comprised of Nanoracks, Voyager Space, and Lockheed Martin, intends to construct the “first-ever free-flying commercial space station,” with operations anticipated to commence in 2027.

Introducing Starlab

The forthcoming space station has been named “Starlab,” a designation that pays homage to Skylab, the third space station launched by the United States. Starlab is designed to accommodate a crew of four astronauts.

It will be significantly smaller in volume than the ISS, providing approximately one-third of the ISS’s total habitable space. This reduced size is expected to allow for a single launch deployment to orbit.

Expertise and Roles

The collaborative team possesses substantial experience in space-based activities. Nanoracks, now primarily owned by Voyager, has been instrumental in the design and construction of several components currently utilized on the ISS.

Voyager will contribute strategic direction and financial investment to the project. Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal manufacturer of Starlab and will oversee the integration of its various technological elements.

Key Components of Starlab

The station’s core will feature an inflatable habitat module developed by Lockheed Martin. This will be complemented by a docking port for incoming cargo and crew vehicles.

A robotic arm, similar to those found on existing space stations, will also be included to facilitate external cargo handling and payload manipulation.

Future Occupancy and NASA’s Role

Starlab’s potential occupants will include researchers from both public and private institutions, manufacturers, scientists, and even commercial space tourists.

NASA envisions itself as one client among many for these private stations. This approach aims to ensure the continued presence in space is financially sustainable for the agency and optimizes the use of taxpayer dollars.

Starlab represents a significant step towards a future where commercial space stations play a vital role in ongoing space exploration and research.