Starlab is shaping up to be the commercial powerhouse that replaces the International Space Station after its de-orbit around 2030. In this 2026 update we dive into everything that’s happened with Starlab over the past year: major milestones, new partnerships, massive research capability, geopolitical risks, and how it stacks up against Vast, Axiom and Orbital Reef.
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00:00 Intro
01:52 Trans-Atlantic Arrangement: Key Strength or Key Weakness?
03:19 Key Partners
05:03 Service Partners (Cargo Missions and Others)
05:41 Potential Customers
06:31 Starlab Space Station: What We Know
07:43 Starlab European User Conference In October 2025
10:40 The Competition
12:37 Final Thoughts
13:27 Outro
Key updates covered:
Passed Preliminary Design Review (March 2025) & Critical Design Review (Dec 2025)
Full-scale mock-up delivered to NASA Johnson Space Center
Vivace selected for primary structure manufacturing
Latest details from the October 2025 European User Conference
A slide deck reveals:
387 m³ pressurised volume
145 m² floor space
130+ internal payload slots
7-deck layout
500 km / 45° orbit
AI from Palantir, robotics from MDA Space, habitat expertise from Airbus
We also tackle the big question:
Is the trans-Atlantic partnership (US, Europe, Canada, Japan) a massive strength or a hidden weakness given current US-Canada tariff threats?
Plus, the competition landscape in 2026:
Vast Haven-1 delayed to Q1 2027
Axiom first module no earlier than 2027–2028
Orbital Reef remains quiet
Potential new bidders: Max Space, Sierra Space (LIFE habitat), maybe even SpaceX Starship again?
What do you think?
Is Starlab the clear front-runner for NASA’s CLD Phase II awards?
Will it become the go-to destination for biotech, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and microgravity manufacturing?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Sources
STARLAB:
A Commercial Space Economy Ready to Scale:
Slide Deck from the Starlab European User Conference, October 2025:
NASA Sees Key Progress on Starlab Commercial Space Station PDR, July 2025:
Voyager Advances Starlab Development with Vivace Manufacturing Partnership:
Additional Investment in Commercial Space Station Business and Acquisition of Experimental Module Usage Rights:
2026: THE FINAL INFLECTION POINT FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE READINESS:
MITSUBISHI CORPORATION JOINS STARLAB AS MAJOR SPACE STATION CUSTOMER:
Starlab Space, 30 second video of interior:
#Starlab #CommercialSpaceStation #ISSReplacement #NASA #SpaceX #Starship #OrbitalReef #AxiomSpace #VastSpace #SpaceEconomy
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