Voyager Space, one of several US companies formulating concepts for new commercial space stations, has established a joint venture with Airbus to co-develop an Earth-orbiting research outpost called Starlab.

The Starlab station is designed to accommodate a permanent crew of four people, plus a few more on a short-term basis. NASA anticipates requiring capacity for at least two astronauts permanently in low-Earth orbit in the 2030s after the decommissioning of the ISS, which currently supports a permanent crew of seven.

Voyager says the Starlab station could be ready for launch in 2028. The entire station will launch on a single heavy-lift rocket. Kuta said the Starlab team will announce a launch provider for the space station in the next couple of months.