SpaceX's Starship Selected to Launch Starlab Space Station
The commercial space station Starlab, a joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus, is set to launch on SpaceX's Starship in a single mission before the decade ends.
- Starlab aims to replace the International Space Station, with a launch planned as early as 2028.
- The space station will be about 26 feet in diameter, requiring a powerful rocket like Starship for a single launch.
- SpaceX's history of reliability and high-cadence launches influenced the decision to select Starship for the mission.
- Starlab will support a crew of four and is designed for microgravity research, aiming for a 30-year operational lifespan.
- The project has received NASA funding under the Commercial LEO Destinations program, with design reviews ongoing.