The European Space Agency has signed a deal with Airbus and Voyager Space to secure its next home in orbit.  The two companies are currently developing Starlab, one of several planned replacements for the International Space Station (ISS), which is set to retire in 2030.  Under the agreement, ESA will assess how the Starlab space station could be used to provide continued access to space for Europe after the retirement of the ISS. ESA would primarily use Starlab for astronaut missions and space-based research. The agency could also potentially provide cargo and crew transportation services for the new space station.…

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