DigitalBlast reserves capacity on Starlab commercial space station

DigitalBlast has signed a reservation agreement for the Starlab commercial space station, becoming the second company in Japan and Asia to secure capacity there after Mitsubishi Corporation. The deal positions the Tokyo-based space startup to help Japanese and regional companies access low Earth orbit as the ISS nears retirement around 2030.

Why it matters: - DigitalBlast’s reservation gives the company early access to Starlab, a commercial successor to the International Space Station. - The agreement is designed to support post-ISS research and business activity in low Earth orbit. - DigitalBlast aims to act as a user-integration partner for companies and research institutions in Japan and across Asia.

What happened: - DigitalBlast signed a Reservation Agreement with Starlab Space LLC for use of the Starlab commercial space station. - The signing ceremony was held after the agreement was executed on July 14, 2026. - DigitalBlast said it is the second company in Japan and the Asia region to reserve capacity on Starlab, following Mitsubishi Corporation’s announcement in January 2026. - Shingo Horiguchi, president and CEO of DigitalBlast, and Thomas E. Ayres, general counsel of Starlab Space LLC, were the signatories.

The details: - The reservation secures a future utilization allocation aboard Starlab, which is intended to succeed the ISS around 2030. - DigitalBlast plans to use the station to provide services that leverage the space environment. - The planned payload is an onboard computer under development by DigitalBlast. - The computer is based on “Orbital Data Center Construction Technology,” a theme adopted by the JAXA Space Strategic Fund, with SpaceBlast, Inc. as the lead institution. - Starlab Space LLC is headquartered in Houston, Texas. - Starlab is being developed by a U.S.-led joint venture that includes Voyager Technologies, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, Palantir Technologies, and Space Applications Services. - The Starlab reference site is the company’s announcement page. - DigitalBlast was founded in December 2018 and is based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. - DigitalBlast’s business includes space development, research infrastructure, and platform services for life-science R&D in space.

Between the lines: - The agreement reflects a broader shift from government-led ISS activity to commercial platforms in low Earth orbit. - DigitalBlast is building a position in the post-ISS market by tying its orbital computer work to a real station reservation. - The company is trying to become a gateway for Japanese and Asian customers that want orbital access but may not build their own space infrastructure. - Starlab is also using the deal to strengthen its customer base in Asia ahead of the ISS transition.

What's next: - DigitalBlast said it will continue developing in-orbit technologies and services for commercial use. - The company expects the Starlab allocation to support expansion of its orbital business and broader use of the space environment. - Starlab Space LLC said it will work with DigitalBlast to expand low-Earth-orbit opportunities for more companies and research institutions. - The companies framed the agreement as part of a longer transition toward commercial operations in space as the ISS approaches retirement.