Janus Henderson Group and Voyager Technologies said on Tuesday that the investment firm will take a strategic stake in Starlab Space, a commercial space station developer preparing to operate in low Earth orbit after the retirement of the International Space Station.
Starlab Space, founded in 2021 and based in Houston, is a joint venture led by Voyager Technologies with partners Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, Palantir Technologies and Space Applications Services. Strategic partners also include Northrop Grumman, Hilton, Journey and The Ohio State University.
The company is developing an AI-enabled commercial station designed to maintain a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit and support microgravity research after the ISS is decommissioned in 2030.
Janus Henderson, which manages more than $40 billion in active small and mid-cap equities, said the investment reflects its long-standing focus on identifying emerging companies with strong growth potential. Recent private-market investments by the firm include Kardium Inc., developer of a pulsed-field ablation system for treating atrial fibrillation.
“We are excited to announce our investment in Starlab, a leader in the development of a commercial space station to replace the ISS,” said Jonathan Coleman, Small Cap Growth Portfolio Manager at Janus Henderson. “We have strong conviction that Starlab has the best design, lowest cost profile, and most compelling business model of any of the contenders vying to replace the ISS after its de-orbit in 2030.” He added that the multinational partnership behind Starlab makes it “a more attractive partner to NASA and international space agencies.”
Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Voyager Technologies, said the commitment from Janus Henderson reflects growing market confidence in the emerging commercial space economy. “This partnership underscores the confidence from customers, partners and financial institutions that Starlab offers the right design, the right team, and the right business model for the post-ISS era,” he said.
