From a single space station, to several stations in orbit, including commercial ones. As NASA pushes forward with a plan to retire the International Space Station (ISS), expected to happen in 2030, China, Russia and India have announced their own projects thinking of an alternative. Now the European Space Agency (ESA) has just confirmed its support for the Starlab project. which will be the first commercial space station in space.
ESA has signed a memorandum of understanding with two companies leading the development of Starlab: Voyager Space and Airbus. During its latest summit in Seville on November 6 and 7, ESA confirmed an agreement outlining the parties’ intention to work together to develop scientific and technological solutions related to the station.
Starlab is scheduled to enter orbit in 2028 and begin operations in 2029. In addition to collaborating with astronauts and scientific missions, the project participants also hope to stimulate the development of some commercial enterprises. Some large companies are already participating in the initiative. For example, its rooms and living environment layout will be designed by the luxury hotel chain Hilton.
The agreement with ESA also provides projects involving the development of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. In addition, the European agency has developed a possible European system for the transport of cargo and crews.
ESA wants ‘smooth transition’ to Starlab
European astronauts have been traveling to the ISS for more than 20 years. Collaboration with the NASA-led station enabled the launch of ESA’s Columbus Laboratory, which has offered the region’s scientists access to weightless environments since 2008. ESA explained in a statement that the idea Ensure a “smooth transition” from the ISS to a system that includes commercial service options such as Starlab.
This year, NASA has already requested funding from the US Congress to begin developing a “space tug.” The idea was to use the spacecraft to bring the ISS back into the atmosphere. It will be the largest atmospheric reentry in history, with 400 tons of metal tearing through the sky as high as the Pacific Ocean.
NASA is leading the ISS with support from several partners, including Russia, which has announced it will remain on the station until 2028. Japan, Canada and ESA have confirmed that they will maintain continuity of operations until 2030.
“ESA values the transatlantic industry initiative to build the commercial space station Starlab and the potential that its strong European presence has for important industrial and institutional contributions,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General. “Our teams look forward to working closely with the Starlab teams here in Europe and the US.”
Apart from the ISS, there is only a Chinese station in orbit. Beijing launched its first module in 2021 and recently announced it would double in size in hopes of hosting international missions. Russia has said it hopes to launch its own in 2027. And India – only by 2035.
Source: Hiper Textual
