A conceptual rendering of Starlab commercial space station (Image source: Starlab; cropped)
As the International Space Station nears retirement, NASA has reported major progress on the Starlab commercial space station, a key project in the plan to ensure a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit.
NASA is actively preparing for a future beyond the International Space Station (ISS) by fostering a commercial marketplace in low Earth orbit. The agency recently announced that Starlab, one of the commercially developed space stations it supports, has successfully completed five key development and design landmarks.
This progress marks a critical step in NASA’s strategy to transition from being an operator of a space station to becoming one of many customers for services in orbit. NASA is currently facilitating the design and development of multiple commercial space stations.
As we work toward the future of low Earth orbit, these milestones demonstrate Starlab’s dedication to building a commercial space station that can support human life and advance scientific research. — Angela Hart, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program.
Having cleared its preliminary design and safety reviews, the Starlab project will now advance to detailed design and hardware development. The next major step is a critical design review scheduled for later this year, which will assess design maturity before construction can begin.
In the most tangible sign of progress, the company has started building a full-scale, high-fidelity mockup of the station. This mockup will be located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where it will be used for “human-in-the-loop” testing to evaluate crew training, interior design, and in-flight procedures. The planned Starlab design consists of a habitat and a service module that will be sent to orbit on a single launch.
Chibuike Okpara – Tech Writer – 56 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
I have always been fascinated by technology and digital devices my entire life and even got addicted to it. I have always marveled at the intricacy of even the simplest digital devices and systems around us. I have been writing and publishing articles online for about 6 years now, just about a year ago, I found myself lost in the marvel of smartphones and laptops we have in our hands every day. I developed a passion for learning about new devices and technologies that come with them and at some point, I asked myself, “Why not get into writing tech articles?” It is useless to say I followed up the idea — it is evident. I am an open-minded individual who derives an infinite amount of joy from researching and discovering new information, I believe there is so much to learn and such a short life to live, so I put my time to good use — learning new things. I am a ‘bookworm’ of the internet and digital devices. When I am not writing, you will find me on my devices still, I do explore and admire the beauty of nature and creatures. I am a fast learner and quickly adapt to changes, always looking forward to new adventures.