Rendering of the Starlab commercial space station. Photo: Starlab Space

Voyager Technologies has selected Vivace Corporation to manufacture the primary structure of the Starlab commercial space station. 

Vivace is an aerospace manufacturer that produces hardware for a wide range of space customers including NASA, United Launch Alliance, Rocket Lab, and Northrop Grumman. It is based in NASA’s Michoud assembly facility near New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Vivace will finalize the design-to-manufacture and begin the manufacturing process for the primary structure, the companies said Wednesday. Earlier this year, Starlab completed its preliminary design review (PDR) in collaboration with NASA as a step toward full-scale production.

The program will use Vivace’s New Orleans facility at MAF for fabrication, with support from U.S. government partners for subject matter expertise, structural analysis and potential test infrastructure. MAF will also support specialized large-scale manufacturing and assembly operations, Voyager said Wednesday. 

Starlab is a commercial space station in development, one of the commercial ventures in the works to succeed the International Space Station (ISS). NASA has awarded the program more than $217.5 million. Starlab has previously set a target for launch in 2028, but Wednesday’s press release put the timeline as “later this decade.” 

The company Starlab Space is a joint venture between Voyager Technologies, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, and Palantir Technologies, with strategic partners with Hilton, Northrop Grumman and The Ohio State University.

“Vivace is honored to be selected as Starlab’s partner for this groundbreaking program,” said Steve Cook, Chairman of Vivace. “Manufacturing one of the largest space structures in our nation’s history demands precision, expertise, and proven processes. Leveraging Vivace’s high-TRL capabilities and facilities in Louisiana, we are proud to contribute to this significant project supporting U.S. and allied leadership in human spaceflight.”