Voyager Technologies has selected Vivace Corporation to produce the primary structure of the Starlab commercial space station, the companies announced Wednesday. Vivace, an aerospace manufacturer serving NASA, United Launch Alliance, Rocket Lab, and Northrop Grumman, will carry out design-to-manufacture work and begin production at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans, Louisiana.
Earlier this year, Starlab completed its preliminary design review in collaboration with NASA, marking a step toward full-scale production. Vivace’s New Orleans facility will handle fabrication, supported by U.S. government partners providing structural analysis, test infrastructure, and specialized expertise. The site will also support large-scale manufacturing and assembly operations for the program.
Starlab, a joint venture involving Voyager Technologies, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, and Palantir Technologies, with strategic partners Hilton, Northrop Grumman, and The Ohio State University, is among the commercial projects intended to succeed the International Space Station. NASA has awarded the program more than $217.5 million, with a launch targeted for “later this decade.”
Steve Cook, Chairman of Vivace, said the company was “honored to be selected as Starlab’s partner for this groundbreaking program.” He added that “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.”
