SpaceX to Launch Starlab Private Station into Orbit - Potential ISS Replacement

The entire station will be delivered in one flight.

The commercial company Starlab Space has announced that it has selected Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch the private Starlab space station into low Earth orbit. The station will be delivered by the reusable Starship spacecraft in a single mission. Once operational, it will be able to continuously host representatives from space agencies, researchers, and astronauts from private companies.

The exact timeline for the station's launch into orbit has not yet been disclosed - it is only known that this will occur before the decommissioning of the ISS. The ISS will operate until 2030, and it is planned to be deorbited in early 2031.

It is expected that Starlab will enable the continuation of microgravity research currently conducted on the ISS: equipment will simply be transferred to the new station and work will continue. Up to 4 researchers will be able to conduct scientific activities on this station simultaneously.

In addition to Starlab, plans are in place for the launch of other private stations in the coming years - for example, SpaceX, in collaboration with the startup Vast, intends to launch the first of them as early as 2025. It seems we are heading towards a transition from the ISS to separate commercial and government stations.