European Space Agency ESA wants to strengthen its place in the space world. For this reason, he accelerated his work. ESA wants to secure its next home in orbit. It will support the Starlab project, which wants to replace the International Space Station (ISS), which will soon reach the end of its mission life. For this, it signed an agreement with Airbus and Voyager Space. Here are the details…
ESA, Airbus and Voyager Space are joining forces for the new ISS candidate Starlab!
The International Space Station, currently in orbit, will end its life in 2030. Airbus and Voyager Space are currently collaborating on a major project. The two companies are developing Starlab, one of several projects planned to replace the International Space Station (ISS).
ESA will also be included in this agreement. Under the agreement, ESA will evaluate how the Starlab space station could be used to provide Europe with continued access to space. ESA will use Starlab primarily for astronaut missions and space-based research. The agency will also potentially provide cargo and crew transportation services for the new space station.
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“ESA appreciates the transatlantic industry initiative towards the commercial Starlab space station and the potential of its strong European footprint to enable significant European industrial and institutional contributions to the use of that station,” said the agency’s director general, Josef Aschbacher. said.
It’s not clear that Starlab will replace the International Space Station (ISS). Starlab is just one of many projects vying to replace the ISS. Among its main rivals is Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin project, which envisions a “mixed-use business park” called Orbital Reef. NASA also provided funding for other concepts. Now it will determine which contestant deserves more support.
Starlab’s victory in this competition will be a great advantage for European space missions. Starlab is also currently the most attractive option for Europe due to its partnership with French aerospace giant Airbus. Airbus has made important efforts for space studies. Most recently, it supplied the European service module for Orion, Europe’s contribution to NASA’s Artemis missions.
Voyager Space president Matthew Kuta also expressed his views on this issue. He has previously stated that Airbus’ involvement will not only aid Starlab’s technical development but also business development. “We have great relations with ESA, but obviously Airbus has much better relations.” said.
