Starlab Space Station Adds Satellite Relay Partner For Real-Time Communications
SES Space & Defense Will Route Station Data Through Its O3b mPOWER Network Before Starlab Launches
Starlab has selected SES Space & Defense to provide continuous satellite relay communications for its commercial space station, the companies said Monday.
“Mission success in Low Earth Orbit depends on resilient, always-available communications infrastructure.”
Brad Henderson, Starlab
Starlab is under development as part of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development, or CLD, program, which is intended to succeed the International Space Station. SES Space & Defense is a subsidiary of satellite operator SES S.A. and has provided communications services to the U.S. government and allied defense organizations for nearly six decades.
The companies described the arrangement as an agreement to collaborate on communications architecture. Neither the release nor other trade coverage of the announcement specified whether it is a signed contract, a memorandum of understanding, or a letter of intent. Contract terms, a signing date beyond July 27, and a target launch date for the station were not disclosed.
Under the arrangement, SES Space & Defense will provide what it calls LEO Relay Services, built around its O3b mPOWER satellite network in medium Earth orbit. The system is designed to relay data from Starlab in low Earth orbit through O3b mPOWER to ground networks with minimal delay, rather than depending on direct contact windows between the station and ground stations.
“Human spaceflight and commercial research missions demand government-grade communications with reliability, security, and resilience at commercially affordable price points,” said David Broadbent, president and CEO of SES Space & Defense. “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.”
Broadbent was named to the role in July 2025, when SES combined the government and defense divisions of SES and Intelsat following its acquisition of Intelsat.
“Mission success in Low Earth Orbit depends on resilient, always-available communications infrastructure,” said Brad Henderson, chief commercial officer of Starlab. “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.”
Henderson joined Starlab as chief commercial officer in 2024, after previously leading space habitation development at Sierra Space.
Starlab is a joint venture led by Voyager Technologies, with Airbus, Mitsubishi Corp., MDA Space, Palantir Technologies and Space Applications Services as partners, along with Hilton, Journey, Northrop Grumman and Ohio State University. According to the release, engineering teams from both companies spent 2025 and 2026 modeling in-orbit performance and evaluating terminal solutions ahead of the deal.
SES Space & Defense said its communications services will be available when Starlab launches and will expand through the station’s operational lifetime.