CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Mitsubishi Corp of Japan is becoming a part of Starlab Space, which is a collaboration between Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space. This collaboration is working on creating a space station for commercial use.
On April 4, Starlab Space announced that Mitsubishi is now a strategic partner and will have a share of ownership in the joint venture. A spokesperson from Starlab declined to give specific details such as the financial value or the size of the ownership stake.
Mikito Nakaniwa, who is the division chief operating officer of Mitsubishi’s Infrastructure, Ship & Aerospace Division, said in a statement that they are thrilled to team up with Starlab, which includes Airbus and Voyager, to foster innovation and drive progress in space exploration.
The announcement did not specify the exact roles or responsibilities Mitsubishi will have in Starlab. It only mentioned that the company will enhance the worth of Starlab by utilizing space research to assist in developing products for various industries on Earth. It will also enable Japanese industry to utilize Starlab’s capabilities.
Mike Schoellhorn, the chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space, stated that Mitsubishi Corporation brings valuable experience and a strong dedication to shaping the future of space business in Japan since the 1960s, making them a perfect addition to the team.
Having a Japanese company involved in Starlab could help the company secure funding from the Japanese government. Current partners in the International Space Station are considering how to continue their activities on the station after it is retired around the end of the decade, with a preference for maintaining investments in their countries rather than giving direct payments to an American commercial space station operator.
In August, Voyager and Airbus established the Starlab Space joint venture, with Voyager holding the majority control. Previously, the companies announced an agreement where Airbus would offer technical support, including work on the station's single large module, for Starlab.One of the reasons for the partnership was to provide Starlab with better access to European markets through Airbus. In November,
Airbus and Voyager confirmed they signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Space Agency to explore how to use Starlab to give ESA continued access to low Earth orbit after the ISS retires. This could include using commercial cargo and crew vehicles developed in Europe with the support of ESA, which announced a cargo vehicle initiative around the time the memorandum was signed. In January, Starlab Space announced
it made an agreement with SpaceX to launch the Starlab station on a single flight of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle in the late 2020s. Mitsubishi Corp of Japan is becoming involved in Starlab Space, a collaboration between Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space that is creating a commercial space station.
