Starlab Completes NASA Commercial Critical Design Review

Milestone achieved Starlab Completes NASA Commercial Critical Design Review

2026-02-25 Source: Press release Starlab Space LLC 1 min Reading Time

Starlab maintains continuity of human presence and research in low Earth orbit.

Starlab Space LLC, developer of a next-generation commercial space station, has successfully completed its Commercial Critical Design Review (CCDR) with NASA in attendance, marking a decisive transition from design to manufacturing and systems integration. The CCDR data supports the 28th milestone on the NASA Commercial LEO Destinations Space Act Agreement.

The milestone confirms that Starlab’s architecture, safety approach and performance requirements are technically mature, integrated and executable, allowing the program to move beyond design validation and fully into fabrication, testing and assembly.

In parallel with the technical review, Starlab completed a review of the business plan and business model, validating the commercial intent underpinning the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program. The business plan substantiates a sustainable, robust revenue model, demonstrates ISS-equivalent payload and crew capabilities, and confirms Starlab is being developed as a market-driven platform rather than a government-dependent asset.

“Completing CCDR is a critical step in delivering continuous access to low Earth orbit, with no gap in capability to science, industry or national interests,” said Marshall Smith, CEO of Starlab. “This confirms Starlab is executable at scale and that our timeline aligns with ISS transition requirements. Equally important, our CCDR business plan review demonstrates that Starlab is being built around a real, diversified commercial market—one that supports sustained human presence and research in low Earth orbit.”

This achievement reflects years of disciplined engineering, close coordination with NASA, ESA, and JAXA, and strong collaboration across a global team, including Voyager Technologies, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, Palantir Technologies, and Space Applications Services. It validates both Starlab’s technical maturity and the credibility of the underlying business case.

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