NASA selects companies to build commercial space station
NASA awarded contracts to companies to build first-of-its-kind commercial space station.
The first three member team consisting of Nanoracks, Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin won $160 million to build the space station. Northrop Grumman also announced it signed a $125.6 million Space Act Agreement with the agency.
The contract award is part of NASA’s Commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Development program.
Lockheed Martin said its Starlab station will enable NASA’s initiative to stimulate the commercial space economy and provide science and crew capabilities prior to the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS).
The initial $160 million award to Nanoracks is made via a funded Space Act Agreement through 2025. This initial NASA-provided funding will be supplemented with customer pre-buy opportunities and public-private partnerships. Fully owned by Nanoracks, Starlab is planned to reach initial operating capability in 2027, which ensures continuous human presence in LEO by U.S. entities. NASA will have the opportunity to purchase crew and payload services on Starlab through separate services contracts with Nanoracks.
