Starlab Space, the joint venture led by Voyager Technologies, completed NASA’s Commercial Critical Design Review (CCDR) on February 23, 2026. The review confirmed the technical architecture, safety approach, and performance requirements of the commercial low‑Earth‑orbit station, allowing the program to move from design validation into fabrication, testing and assembly.
The CCDR also included a business‑plan assessment that validated the commercial intent of the program. Clearing this regulatory hurdle is a prerequisite for NASA to award the Phase 2 Space Act Agreement, which the agency plans to issue in 2026. The milestone therefore positions Starlab to secure the next round of funding and to demonstrate its readiness to investors and potential commercial customers.
Starlab’s launch target is now set for 2028, with no earlier than 2028, and the vehicle will be SpaceX’s Starship. This timeline aligns with the International Space Station’s projected retirement and the broader NASA Commercial LEO Destinations program.
Voyager Technologies holds a 67% stake in the Starlab joint venture, underscoring its majority ownership and strategic control over the project’s direction and financing.
The CCDR completion strengthens Starlab’s position in the emerging commercial space station market. It validates the technical and commercial viability of the design, supports a seamless transition of microgravity research from the ISS, and enhances Voyager’s reputation as a key player in the sector.
"Completing CCDR is a critical step in delivering continuous access to low Earth orbit, with no gap in capability to science, industry or national interests. This confirms Starlab is executable at scale and that our timeline aligns with ISS transition requirements. Equally important, our CCDR business plan review demonstrates that Starlab is being built around a real, diversified commercial market – one that supports sustained human presence and research in low Earth orbit," said Marshall Smith, CEO of Starlab.
Starlab’s success is the result of a global partnership that includes NASA, ESA, JAXA, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, Palantir Technologies and Space Applications Services. The joint venture also benefits from strategic partners such as Hilton, Journey, Northrop Grumman and The Ohio State University. In addition, Voyager Technologies is advancing the Voyager Institute for Space, Technology and Advancement (VISTA), a science park designed to foster in‑space research and manufacturing, further supporting the long‑term sustainability of commercial space infrastructure.
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