MDA Space announced a bold move today, joining Starlab Space LLC as a partner and equity owner as Starlab strives to build a next-generation commercial space station.
With the International Space Station expected to be deorbited in 2030, the international partners have been planning what’s next. In particular, NASA developed the Commercial Destinations in Low Earth Orbit program which “is supporting the development of commercially-owned and operated Low Earth Orbit destinations from which NASA, along with other customers, can purchase services and stimulate the growth of commercial activities in Low Earth Orbit.” In other words, rather than a government led program that designed, developed and built the International Space Station, a next-generation space station will be commercially led.
To date, NASA has funded three companies in the first phase, Axiom Space, Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef and Nanoracks’ Starlab. Nanoracks is owned by Voyager Space, the founder of Starlab. Nanoracks received $160M in funding from NASA in the first phase. Those funds were in the form of a public-private partnership contract with Nanoracks designing Starlab. NASA is expected to downselect to one company and fund its design. However, there has been talk, including by Axiom Space, who think NASA should select two companies for the next phase, thus not putting all their eggs in one basket.
Along with Voyager Space and MDA Space, other partners of the joint venture include Airbus and Mitsubishi Corporation. Northrop Grumman and Hilton Hotels have a “strategic teaming agreement” with Starlab, though they are not partners of the joint venture.
In the press release announcing today’s move, Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space and Tim Kopra, CEO of Starlab Space and former NASA astronaut offered these statements.
Mike Greenley said, “Our integration into the Starlab Space team is more than a program collaboration—it strategically fuses together highly complementary and best-in-class expertise with the higher purpose of accelerating the space economy on Earth and in orbit. It is also a validation of the capability and value that MDA SKYMAKER™ offers to the emerging commercial space exploration and infrastructure market, and the high-level of trust and confidence the industry has in MDA Space robotics.”
Tim Kopra said, “With MDA Space joining Starlab, we’re not just embracing innovation, we’re wielding it. Having experienced firsthand the exceptional reliability and versatility of robotic technologies developed by MDA Space during my time on the International Space Station, I am confident that this partnership will drive innovation and unlock new possibilities for Starlab. MDA Space robotic technologies, which have long been a cornerstone of space exploration, will be integral to our operations, ensuring precision and excellence in every endeavor.”
It should be noted that Kopra used to work for MDA Space as Vice President of Robotics and Space Operation.
While MDA Space is now a partner of Starlab Space, it also does business with Axiom Space, having signed two agreements for a total of 62 payload interface pairs for the Axiom Space Station.
