Starlab
A free-flying commercial space station designed to replace the ISS, developed by a Voyager-led joint venture with NASA funding. It is 17 meters tall and sized for four crew at a time.
Why it matters
Starlab is one of the NASA-backed contenders to keep a U.S.-led station in orbit after the ISS retires. NASA had paid the venture $183.2 million in milestone cash by the end of 2025.
How the technology works
Starlab Space, a joint venture majority owned by Voyager, is designing a large station that would fly on its own rather than attach to the ISS. It is 17 meters tall and 7.7 meters wide, with room for four crew continuously and eight during crew handovers.
NASA pays the venture as it hits design milestones under a Space Act Agreement.