This was reported by Bloomberg, according to a report from Ukrinform.

As stated, the station needs to be delivered to space with the Starship rocket, which is still in the testing phase. The amount of the agreement was not disclosed.

Airbus and Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. It is one of a series of private orbital space stations called Starlab. The orbiting laboratories, built and operated by companies in partnership with NASA, aim to replace the aging International Space Station, which will be decommissioned in 2031.

Starlab’s diameter is eight meters.

In 2021, NASA awarded $160 million to Voyager Space, through its subsidiary Nanoracks, to develop Starlab, and in 2023, Voyager Space involved Airbus in a joint project.

Starship is a SpaceX launch vehicle designed for multiple uses. It plays a key role in achieving company founder Elon Musk’s goal of getting people and cargo to the moon and eventually Mars. SpaceX also aims to use Starship as a cargo ship to launch large satellites and space stations into low Earth orbit.

Although Starship is still in development, NASA has already signed a partnership agreement with SpaceX to develop Starship into a lunar lander that will carry astronauts.

As Ukrinform reports, SpaceX expects the third test flight of the Starship rocket system to take place in February this year, after receiving permission from the US Civil Aviation Administration (FAA).