The International Space Station is approaching the end of its operational life. On 12 September 2026, on the sidelines of the International Space Summit in Paris, the European Space Agency signed two documents with operators of planned commercial space stations: a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Axiom Space and a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlab.
ESA and Axiom Space
The MoU creates a framework for possible cooperation. According to ESA, it covers:
- potential ESA astronaut missions on board the Axiom Station
- possible ESA contributions to station infrastructure and utilisation
- building a user base for microgravity research
- development and integration of science payloads
- training and operational support for Axiom's spacewalk (EVA) programme, including training development at the European Astronaut Centre
ESA and Starlab
The Letter of Intent with Starlab builds on an MoU signed in Seville in 2023 and goes further into detail. It defines preliminary terms for ESA's potential use of the Starlab station, including future ESA astronaut missions and European operations and utilisation infrastructure. It also allows for a possible reservation of payload volume and facilities in blocks of 30, 60, 90 or 180 days. Listed lab functions include glovebox use, cold and ambient stowage, incubation and plant habitats. Starlab also foresees the use of European cargo and future crew transport capabilities.
"Europe is strengthening its autonomy while preparing for the post-ISS era."Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General
What it means
Neither document is a binding purchase. ESA states that any next steps will be guided by the decisions of its Member States. Two days earlier, ESA had signed the ALADDIN service contract for the Nyx cargo capsule with The Exploration Company. ESA links both steps: it wants to secure continued access to microgravity research and flight opportunities for European astronauts after the ISS, and it points to growing interest from international partners in its autonomous European cargo vehicle.
Related reading
- After the ISS: Who Is Building the Commercial Space Stations?
- Greece Gets Its First Astronaut Mission: ESA Signs Agreement with Vast
- How Do Crew and Supplies Get to the ISS? The Space Station Supply Chain Explained
Sources
- ESA, "ESA and Axiom Space strengthen cooperation for the post-ISS era", press release N° 49-2026, 12 September 2026: esa.int
- ESA, "ESA and Starlab sign a Letter of Intent related to the post-ISS era", press release N° 48-2026, 12 September 2026: esa.int
Cover image: AI-generated illustration (Carrier Space, created with OpenAI). It does not show the actual spacecraft or stations.