It may seem unbelievable, but the private company Voyager Technologies says it will build the successor to the International Space Station (ISS), Starlab, for just $3 billion. The ISS, which took 13 years to build and involved 15 countries, cost about $100 billion. Voyager is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) to realize this ambitious plan.
The company, which initially filed for an IPO confidently, now reveals more details. Voyager is one of four teams competing for NASA contracts to develop a private space station. However, its ambitions are broader: the company is positioning itself as an innovative defense technology and space solutions player. Accordingly, its business is divided into three areas: “Defense and National Security”, “Space Solutions”, and “Starlab Space Station”.
The Starlab project is being implemented as an international joint venture. Voyager holds a 67% controlling stake. Another 30.5% belongs to the aviation giant Airbus. Technology company Palantir, Japan’s Mitsubishi, and Canada’s MDA Space each have less than 1%. Hilton and Northrop Grumman are among the strategic partners, and SpaceX and its super-heavy Starship rocket are responsible for launching the station into orbit in 2028.
Why is it so cheap?
The main secret to saving money is a revolutionary design. Voyager offered a proven design for a space habitat that can be deployed in space. One such module will replace about 45% of the pressurized volume of the American segment of the ISS. Thus, just two launches will provide a volume equivalent to the entire American segment of the ISS. The total cost of the project, according to Voyager, will be “only” 2.8-3.3 billion dollars.
Where to get the money?
However, Voyager does not currently have the necessary funds. As of the last reports, the company had only $175.5 million. Therefore, an IPO is needed to raise the missing $3 billion.
However, investors should be aware of the high risks: the company is currently unprofitable, and the return on investment will, at best, occur only a few years after the launch of the station. It is expected that revenues will begin to seriously compensate for expenses no earlier than 2029, which is when Starlab is scheduled to enter Earth orbit.
The success of this bold project could fundamentally change the economics of space exploration, but the path to it will require huge investments and the successful implementation of the technological concept.
Earlier, we reported on how Boeing and Airbus leaving the space business will increase defense risks.
Provided by Reuters
