All articles tagged with #private space station
SpaceX launched the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission, including the Haven Demo satellite, which aims to test systems for a potential private space station, Haven-1, set to support up to four astronauts and possibly launch in 2026. The mission also carried 17 other payloads from various international organizations, marking a significant step toward the development of private space habitats.
SpaceX's Starship rocket has been chosen by Starlab to launch its private space station into orbit, with a target launch date in the late 2020s. The 400-foot-tall Starship, capable of carrying up to 150 tons to low Earth orbit, will send the fully outfitted Starlab into space in a single launch, demonstrating the future of commercial space exploration.
SpaceX has partnered with Voyager Space and Airbus to launch a private space station called Starlab into orbit using a single Starship rocket, aiming to provide a continued human presence in low-Earth orbit after the International Space Station is decommissioned. The ambitious plan is reliant on SpaceX's Starship launch platform, which has yet to be proven viable after two failed orbital launch attempts. Despite the hurdles, the companies are confident in getting Starlab off the ground before 2030, with SpaceX expressing optimism about the future of commercial space.
SpaceX's Starship rocket has been chosen to launch the Starlab private space station, which is targeted to begin operations in the late 2020s. The four-person commercial station is expected to be up and running before 2030, providing a new outpost for astronauts after the International Space Station ceases operations. Starlab is being developed by Voyager Space and Airbus, and will be sent into orbit in a single flight by the massive Starship rocket, which is part of SpaceX's next-generation transportation system.
Voyager Space and Airbus announced that their private space station, Starlab, will be launched into orbit by SpaceX's Starship rocket before 2030, aiming to avoid a potential "space station gap" after the International Space Station is decommissioned. The decision to launch in a single mission reduces on-orbit risks, and the joint venture between Voyager and Airbus will leverage technical expertise from both companies. The project received a $160 million contract from NASA for design and development, with a focus on having Starlab in orbit before the ISS retirement in 2030.
Airbus and Voyager Space have formed a joint venture to build a private version of the International Space Station (ISS), expanding Europe's role in the project. Airbus will become a core partner in developing, building, and operating the orbital research post, replacing Lockheed Martin's role. The project, called Starlab, is one of three private concepts designed to replace the aging ISS, with plans to deploy in 2028. NASA plans to retire the ISS in 2030 and rely on private companies for scientific research in low-Earth orbit.
Axiom Space is preparing for its second astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), known as Ax-2. The international crew of four will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and spend roughly 10 days conducting independent research and technology demonstrations. Axiom's first mission to the ISS, Ax-1, launched just over a year ago, and Ax-3 is currently scheduled for the end of this year. Axiom is also among a number of commercial entities that aim to build a private space station in low Earth orbit (LEO) for research, manufacturing, and tourism.
California-based startup Vast Space plans to launch its Haven-1 outpost, the first-ever private space station, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than August 2025. The initial mission will be followed by Vast-1, a four-person jaunt to the new station that could last up to 30 days. Vast aims to operate a "100-meter-long multi-module spinning artificial gravity space station launched by SpaceX's Starship transportation system" in the future.
Russia has confirmed that it will continue to support the International Space Station (ISS) through 2028, despite previous plans to leave the partnership after 2024. The other major ISS partners, including NASA, have committed to the orbiting lab through 2030. NASA is already funding the development of multiple private space station concepts to continue a sustained crewed presence in low Earth orbit after the ISS meets its end.