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\t\t\t\t\t\t09\/11\/2023<\/span> At ESA\u2019s Space Summit in Seville, Spain, ESA, Airbus and Voyager Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Starlab space station.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The agreement outlines the parties\u2019 intention to foster science and technology development and explore collaboration in low Earth orbit destinations other than the International Space Station.<\/p>\n The collaboration will initially focus on exploring opportunities for access to space for Europe through the Starlab space station. These could include:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n European astronauts have been going to the International Space Station for over 20 years, offering European scientists access to a weightless environment via ESA\u2019s Columbus laboratory.<\/p>\n The memorandum of understanding\u00a0signed reflects ESA\u2019s ambition for a smooth transition from the International Space Station towards sustained exploitation of human and robotic infrastructures in low Earth orbit after 2030, including through commercial services.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cESA appreciates the transatlantic industry initiative for the commercial Starlab space station, and the potential that its strong European footprint holds for significant European industrial and institutional contributions to, and use of, said station,\u201d said Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General. \u201cOur teams are looking forward to working closely with the Starlab teams here in Europe and in the US.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis agreement with ESA is critical as we continue to foster international collaboration in the space domain and move towards succeeding the International Space Station with Starlab,\u201d said Matthew Kuta, President of Voyager Space. \u201cWe look forward to working with Airbus and ESA to extend Europe\u2019s footprint in space and ensure they remain a leader in the new generation of commercial space exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cAt Airbus, we are very pleased that ESA is continuing to look to the future and demonstrating such a keen interest in Starlab,\u201d said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus, \u201cOur collaboration on this next-generation space station builds on a long and successful partnership between ESA and Airbus in developing and operating a wide range of crewed and uncrewed spacecraft.\u201d<\/p>\n In the past, Airbus has supplied ESA with iconic spacecraft such as the International Space Station\u2019s Columbus Module, five Automated Transfer Vehicles that flew to the International Space Station and most recently the European Service Module for Orion, Europe\u2019s contribution to NASA\u2019s Artemis missions to the Moon.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Starlab is a commercial space station intended to serve as a successor to the International Space Station. The space station will be developed, built, owned and operated by “Starlab Space”, a joint venture between Airbus and Voyager Space. Starlab is expected to launch as soon as 2028, with commercial operations due to start in 2029.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAbout Starlab<\/h2>\n