Canadian company MDA Space has officially joined the Starlab Space joint venture, bringing its expertise in space robotics to the collaborative project aimed at developing a commercial space station. This partnership further extends the international reach of the initiative.
Expanding the Starlab Space Team
The announcement on May 29 revealed that MDA Space is the newest strategic partner in Starlab Space, a venture launched last year by Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space. This collaboration gained another significant partner, Mitsubishi Corp., in April.
By joining Starlab Space, MDA Space will acquire an equity stake in the venture, though the exact size of this stake has not been disclosed. In return, MDA Space will contribute advanced space robotics technologies from its new MDA Skymaker line, which includes robotic arms and interfaces designed to operate on the exterior of the Starlab space station.
Cutting-Edge Robotics for Space Station Operations
Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space, indicated that the specific capabilities of the MDA Skymaker systems for Starlab will be announced later. However, he mentioned that these systems would support station maintenance, manage external payloads, and assist with docking visiting vehicles. “The MDA Skymaker line of commercial robotics is absolutely suited for that,” Greenley stated.
Voyager Space President Matthew Kuta highlighted that Starlab aims to minimize the need for external maintenance. “Our robotic arm is primarily for facilitating docking or for experiments,” he noted, emphasizing that the focus is on creating revenue-generating opportunities rather than maintenance tasks.
Leveraging Space Robotics Expertise
Starlab marks the first commercial space station customer for MDA Skymaker. These robotic technologies are built upon MDA Space’s extensive experience with robotic arms for the space shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). A version of the MDA Skymaker technology is also set to be used in the Lunar Dawn rover project, which is part of NASA’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services program.
The agreement with Starlab Space is non-exclusive, allowing MDA Space to collaborate with other commercial space station initiatives. This aligns with MDA Space’s broader strategic vision, encompassing Earth observation, communications, and space habitation and operations.
Recreating ISS Partnerships
Both Greenley and Kuta underscored that MDA Space’s inclusion in Starlab Space now brings representation from all Western ISS partners: the United States, Europe, Japan, and Canada. “We’ve been very focused from the beginning on this strategy to recreate the ISS, except this time it’s owned by leading aerospace and defense corporations within those regions,” Kuta explained. This structure aims to leverage technical expertise, customer relationships, and government support from these regions.
“In a sense, we’re putting the band back together,” Greenley remarked.
Collaboration with The Exploration Company
This partnership follows Starlab Space’s recent agreement with The Exploration Company, a European space transportation startup. This deal includes three cargo missions to and from Starlab on the Nyx vehicle, which is currently in development.
Kuta explained that diversifying transportation options is crucial for cost control. “If you only had one way to get to your hotel, the pricing probably increases,” he said. “The goal is to have as many different providers as possible, and we’re happy to work with anyone.”
The Exploration Company was selected by the European Space Agency for initial study contracts for a commercial cargo service to support the ISS and other commercial stations. Kuta expressed optimism about future resupply capabilities from Europe.
Besides The Exploration Company, Starlab Space has an agreement with Northrop Grumman to use its Cygnus cargo spacecraft and is in discussions with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its Gaganyaan crewed spacecraft. Starlab will also collaborate with SpaceX, which will launch the space station using its Starship vehicle.
MDA Space’s involvement in Starlab Space enhances the project’s technological capabilities and international collaboration. This partnership, alongside agreements with other key players, positions Starlab Space as a pioneering force in the burgeoning commercial space station market.