What's Happening?
NASA has awarded its seventh private astronaut mission to Voyager, a company involved in microgravity research and astronaut flight services. This mission is seen as a practice run for Voyager's planned Starlab space station. Voyager and Airbus are partners
in the Starlab project, which aims to succeed the International Space Station (ISS) with a commercial space station. The mission, named VOYG-1, is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2028 and will spend up to 14 days at the ISS. SpaceX is expected to provide transportation services for the mission.
Why It's Important?
The awarding of this mission to Voyager marks a significant step in the transition from government-operated to commercially-operated space stations. It highlights NASA's efforts to foster a vibrant, sustainable marketplace in low Earth orbit. The involvement of multiple providers in private astronaut missions is crucial for developing new capabilities and expanding the orbital economy. This shift could lead to increased opportunities for research and commercial activities in space.
What's Next?
Voyager plans to submit four proposed crewmembers for NASA's review. Once approved, they will undergo training with NASA and international partners. The mission will provide valuable insights into ground operations, training, and flight control, which are essential for the future launch of the Starlab space station. The success of this mission could pave the way for more private missions and the establishment of multiple commercial space stations.
