SES Space & Defense has entered into an agreement with Starlab to collaborate on communication architecture to deliver continuous, resilient, low-latency connectivity services supporting the full lifecycle of the latter’s commercial space station, via its LEO Relay Services (LRS).
Starlab Space is a US-led, global joint venture among Voyager Technologies, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, Palantir Technologies and Space Applications Services, with other strategic partners including Hilton, Journey, Northrop Grumman and the Ohio State University.
The company is developing what it calls a next-generation, AI-enabled commercial low Earth orbit space station, aiming to support microgravity science and research alongside the retirement of the International Space Station. Starlab says that its user-driven design and “robust” capabilities make it a premier platform for scientific discovery and technological advancement in space.
Moreover, Starlab is developing the commercial space station under Nasa’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development (CLD) Program, and is said to have selected SES Space & Defense due to its integrated multi-orbit space and ground architecture.
At the core of LRS is SES’s MEO O3b mPower constellation, seen as a better bet performance-wise than LEO satellites as traditionally such craft experience data delays communicating to large ground stations due to intermittent coverage.
SES says that O3b mPower eliminates data delays through a multi-orbit LRS infrastructure by relaying LEO data through MEO to ground networks in near-real time. This, it assured, will enable always-on connectivity for Starlab operators, researchers and on-orbit crew, ensuring uninterrupted access to data, telemetry and mission operations that support critical decision-making and mission awareness.
The communication system is the result of an engineering collaboration between SES Space & Defense and Starlab. Throughout 2025 and 2026, the teams modelled in-orbit performance, assessed terminal solutions and aligned the relay architecture with Starlab’s mission profile and design requirements.
SES believes the integrated architecture will provide Starlab customers with a “seamless” path to scale as additional relay capabilities and next-generation terminals come online. SES Space & Defense communication services will be available at Starlab’s launch and expand throughout the station’s operational lifecycle.
“Human spaceflight and commercial research missions demand government-grade communications with reliability, security and resilience at commercially affordable price points,” said SES Space & Defense president and CEO David Broadbent. “By integrating our LEO Relay Services into Starlab’s core operations, we’re setting a new benchmark for always-on communications across commercial LEO infrastructure.”
Brad Henderson, chief commercial officer of Starlab, added: “Mission success in low Earth orbit depends on resilient, always‑available communications infrastructure. Through our collaboration with SES Space & Defense, we are building a robust, secure and highly resilient communications architecture that ensures continuous connectivity and real‑time mission awareness across all phases of station operations.”
The deal with Starlab comes just weeks after SES announced an expanded collaboration with connectivity and technology services provider Tototheo Global to deploy its FlexMaritime service across global markets.
Noting that connectivity was increasingly becoming critical infrastructure for modern operations in the maritime sector, SES said FlexMaritime will provide Tototheo Global with “high-performance” multi-orbit satellite and terrestrial connectivity allowing global maritime operators to benefit from consistent, reliable connectivity that supports critical vessel operations while accelerating the adoption of data-driven and digitally enabled onboard services.
