MDA Space Joins Starlab Space as Strategic Partner, Equity Owner in Commercial Space Station Joint Venture
May 29, 2024
MDA Space brings unparalleled space robotics and human spaceflight heritage to Starlab
Starlab Space LLC (Starlab Space), the global joint venture between Voyager Space, Airbus, and Mitsubishi Corporation, have welcomed MDA Space Ltd., a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, as a strategic partner and equity owner in Starlab Space. The Starlab US-led partnership continues to expand, extending the joint venture’s global reach into Canada.
As a global leader in human-rated space robotics, MDA Space is synonymous with excellence and innovation, pioneering groundbreaking technologies that have shaped and set the standard for the space robotics industry. As the developer of the Canadarm family of robotics that have provided mission critical support to astronauts and mission operators on the International Space Station for more than two decades, MDA Space will play a pivotal role in Starlab’s development. The company joins the Starlab team to provide the full range of external robotics, robotics interfaces and robotic mission operations to the station, including its recently launched full suite of scalable and modular robotics solutions, MDA SKYMAKER™, which can be tailored to support a diverse range of missions.
“With MDA Space joining Starlab, we’re not just embracing innovation, we’re wielding it,” said Tim Kopra, CEO of Starlab Space and former NASA astronaut. “Having experienced firsthand the exceptional reliability and versatility of robotic technologies developed by MDA Space during my time on the International Space Station, I am confident that this partnership will drive innovation and unlock new possibilities for Starlab. MDA Space robotic technologies, which have long been a cornerstone of space exploration, will be integral to our operations, ensuring precision and excellence in every endeavor.”
“Our integration into the Starlab Space team is more than a program collaboration—it strategically fuses together highly complementary and best-in-class expertise with the higher purpose of accelerating the space economy on Earth and in orbit,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “It is also a validation of the capability and value that MDA SKYMAKER™ offers to the emerging commercial space exploration and infrastructure market, and the high-level of trust and confidence the industry has in MDA Space robotics.”
The addition of MDA Space to the Starlab Space team reinforces the joint venture’s commitment to assembling an international consortium of strategic and high-profile companies with flight heritage and proven experience, including Voyager Space, Airbus, and Mitsubishi Corporation, further expanding Starlab Space’s global partner network set to expand the commercial space economy. The U.S., European, Japanese, and Canadian industry partners enable the continuation of the International Space Station partner network via commercial entities.
In addition to the joint venture partners, Starlab Space has a strategic teaming agreement with Northrop Grumman, a design and experience partnership with Hilton Hotels, and has secured a launch contract with SpaceX for its Starship vehicle.
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MDA SKYMAKER™: MDA Space Defines the Next Generation of Robotics with New MDA SKYMAKER™ Product Line
MDA Space, a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, has announced MDA SKYMAKER™, a new suite of space robotics purpose-built to meet the diverse needs of our customers’ most ambitious missions. Unveiled at the Space Symposium conference in Colorado Springs, MDA SKYMAKER™, the world’s leading space robotics technology and services, is now available for all types of missions and applications.
Derived from peerless Canadarm technology, MDA SKYMAKER™ provides innovative space companies and ventures with access to the world’s most flight-proven space robotics solutions and services, supporting a diverse range of missions including lunar surface rovers and landers, space stations, satellite servicing in all orbits, and in-space assembly and manufacturing.
