Voyager Space’s recent funding announcement confirms that the private space station movement is continuing to gain momentum. With Starlab, Voyager hopes to establish itself as a leader in this burgeoning industry, and hopefully spur even more innovation in space exploration.
The investment in Seraphim Space signals a growing trend of venture capitalists betting on the future of spaceflight, as private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin continue to push boundaries with innovative designs and cutting-edge technology.
Some criticize Voyager for creating a space station that is only partly private, while others applaud it as a way to ensure the future of the ISS. As seen in other industries, privatization leads to innovation and better service. The development of Starlab shows that private firms can work together successfully on grandiose projects. However, questions remain about how effective such collaborations will be in the long term when governments must provide more funding and policy oversight for these endeavors.
One of the purposes of the NASA Commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) Destinations program is to develop a human-tended space station as part of a long term strategy for human exploration. With Voyager now more than 35,000 miles from Earth and Starlab slated to launch in 2020, this program is important if humans are going to explore beyond our home planet.
Voyager Space is one of the pioneers in the space industry. Their spacecraft are known for their innovative designs and unparalleled technology.
