Starlab Space LLC, a joint venture led by Voyager Technologies, secured a new capital injection from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank on December 26, 2025. The investment, while undisclosed in size, is part of Starlab’s broader strategy to fund the development of a next‑generation, AI‑enabled commercial space station slated for launch in 2029.
The space station will be built in partnership with Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, Palantir Technologies, and Space Applications Services, and will use SpaceX’s Starship as its launch vehicle. Starlab’s AI architecture, developed with Palantir, will provide real‑time decision‑making and autonomous operations for crewed missions, positioning the platform as a more efficient and resilient alternative to the International Space Station.
Voyager Technologies, the majority owner of Starlab, reported Q3 2025 net sales of $39.6 million, flat year‑over‑year, and a 31 % increase in its Defense and National Security segment. The company’s full‑year 2025 revenue is expected to hit the high end of its $165 million–$170 million guidance, while it posted a net loss of $100.55 million on $157.48 million in revenue, underscoring the capital intensity of its space‑infrastructure push.
Starlab’s total funding to date includes a $217 million Space Act Agreement with NASA, a $15 million grant from the Texas Space Commission, a strategic investment from Janus Henderson in November 2025, and the latest infusion from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. These capital sources have enabled the joint venture to advance through preliminary design reviews, secure NASA milestones, and maintain a robust development schedule.
The new investment provides Starlab with the financial flexibility to accelerate design, manufacturing, and testing phases, potentially shortening the path to revenue generation and preserving Voyager’s ownership stake without immediate dilution. The backing from a major financial institution also signals growing confidence in the commercial space economy and positions Starlab to capture the post‑ISS market against competitors such as Axiom Space and SpaceX’s own commercial station plans.
"The investment from a global financial leader such as Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is a strong market signal that the commercial space economy is entering a new phase of maturity," said Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Voyager Technologies. "It reinforces our confidence that Starlab’s platform will deliver a commercially sustainable, transformative space station for the post‑ISS era."
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