This week, Denver space services company Nanoracks and its parent company Voyager Space, announced, together with aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin, that it has received a $160 million contract from NASA to design the much-anticipated Starlab commercial space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Development program. Starlab is part of NASA’s broader initiative to kickstart the commercial space economy, and to provide science and crew capabilities before the International Space Station (ISS) is officially retired.
“While today marks a major milestone for Nanoracks and our Starlab team, the impact goes far beyond this award,” Nanoracks CEO Dr. Amela Wilson said. “To receive this support from NASA validates over a decade of Nanoracks’ hard work forging commercial access to space, bringing over 1300 commercial payloads from 30 nations to the ISS. This opportunity opens far-reaching possibilities for critical research and commercial industrial activity in LEO. We are honored to be selected as one of three awardees to work with NASA, and we cannot wait to bring our existing global commercial customer base to Starlab.”
The $160 million contract has been granted via a funded Space Act Agreement through 2025. This initial NASA-provided funding will be supplemented with customer pre-buy opportunities and public-private partnerships. Fully owned by Nanoracks, Starlab is planned to reach initial operating capability in 2027, which ensures continuous human presence in LEO by U.S. entities. NASA will have the opportunity to purchase crew and payload services on Starlab through separate services contracts with Nanoracks.
The basic elements of the Starlab space station include a large inflatable habitat, designed and built by Lockheed Martin, a metallic docking node, a power and propulsion element, a large robotic arm for servicing cargo and payloads, and the George Washington Carver (GWC) Science Park. The GWC Science Park is described as a state-of-the-art laboratory system which will host a comprehensive research, science, and manufacturing capability. Starlab will have the capacity to continuously host up to four astronauts to conduct critical science and research.
“Starlab is the confluence of Lockheed Martin’s rich space expertise and history, Nanoracks’ innovation, and Voyager’s financial savvy. This team is equipped to aid NASA on its mission to expand access to LEO and to enable a transformative commercial space economy,” said Lisa Callahan, Vice President and General Manager, Commercial Civil Space at Lockheed Martin.
Voyager Space, the majority shareholder in Nanoracks, will lead strategy and capital investment in the project, and Lockheed Martin, a leader in developing and operating complex space technology, will serve as the technical integrator of the new advanced space station.
“Starlab’s impact on space commercialization cannot be understated,” said Voyager Space Chairman and CEO Dylan Taylor. “Today we are witnessing a major economic shift, where space businesses are tangible, well capitalized, and commercially sustainable. It takes a planet to explore the universe, and we invite the global community to be part of Starlab’s success.”
