NanoRacks
NanoRacks is a U.S. commercial space infrastructure subsidiary of Voyager Technologies that develops the Starlab space station, operates the Bishop Airlock on the ISS, and provides suborbital research and CubeSat deployment services to NASA and academic institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersWebster, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What NanoRacks does
NanoRacks is a U.S.-based commercial space infrastructure company that provides hardware and services enabling access to low-Earth orbit for government agencies, academic institutions, and commercial customers. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Webster, Texas, the company operates as a subsidiary of Voyager Space (now Voyager Technologies) and focuses on three core product lines: the Starlab commercial space station being developed to replace the ISS by 2030, the Bishop Airlock (the first and only permanent commercially owned module on the ISS offering 5x the capacity of government airlocks), and commercial suborbital research mission platforms including CubeSat deployment and microgravity biology experiments.
The company's revenue is anchored in NASA contracting, with over $415M in cumulative agency awards across the Starlab development program and other commercial space station initiatives, making NanoRacks one of only three selected participants in NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations program. Additional revenue streams derive from managed access services through the Bishop Airlock, payload integration, mission management, and end-to-end mission support spanning planning, safety certification, launch booking, crew training, and on-orbit operations. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-government or direct-to-institution with no disclosed third-party channel partners.
The go-to-market is enterprise sales-led, targeting government agencies (NASA, international space agencies) as primary customers and academic and research institutions as secondary buyers. Pricing is negotiated on a per-project basis with no publicly disclosed rates, and revenue recognition follows the multi-year, milestone-driven structure typical of government space contracts. The company employs 51-100 people and announced a planned 2026 commercial suborbital research mission featuring a primate subject, signaling continued product-line diversification beyond pure station services.
NanoRacks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NanoRacks
- Legal name
- NanoRacks
- Website
- https://nanoracks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- NanoRacks is a U.S. commercial space infrastructure subsidiary of Voyager Technologies that develops the Starlab space station, operates the Bishop Airlock on the ISS, and provides suborbital research and CubeSat deployment services to NASA and academic institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NanoRacks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Space Infrastructure & Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF), Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS) (IMABACAH), Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF)
Keywords
Where NanoRacks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Webster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
NanoRacks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Space Contracts: NASA and government agency contracts for commercial space station development and space research services. NanoRacks received over $400 million in NASA awards for Starlab development.
- Space Station Services: Commercial access to space through the Bishop Airlock module, providing research and operational services to customers.
- Research Mission Services: Commercial suborbital and orbital research missions including payload integration and mission management for scientific experiments.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
NanoRacks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NanoRacks provides commercial access to space through the Bishop Airlock module on the International Space Station and is developing the Starlab commercial space station to replace the ISS by 2030. The company delivers end-to-end mission management services — including planning, payload design, safety, launch booking, crew training, and on-orbit operations — for government agencies, academic institutions, and commercial customers. It also conducts commercial suborbital research missions, such as biological and microgravity experiments for space biology research.
Product overview
NanoRacks is a Voyager Space company offering commercial space infrastructure and services. Its primary products include Starlab, a commercial space station developed in partnership with NASA to replace the ISS, and the Bishop Airlock, the first permanent commercially owned module on the ISS. The company provides mission management services enabling access to space for academia, government agencies, and commercial industries, including payload design, safety, launch booking, crew training, and on-orbit operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Starlab: Commercial space station being developed to replace the International Space Station, part of Starlab Space joint venture
Products and services
- Starlab Commercial Space Station A US-led commercial space station being developed by NanoRacks (as part of the Starlab Space joint venture) to ensure continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit and to replace the International Space Station by 2030. Target customers include NASA, government agencies, and research institutions.
- Bishop Airlock
Quantifiable outcome
- 5x more airlock capacity than government alternatives
Companies that use NanoRacks
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
NanoRacks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
NanoRacks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Voyager Space (Parent Company)coreNanoRacks operates as a subsidiary of Voyager Space, a Voyager Technologies company. Voyager Space provides the parent platform for aerospace and defense operations including NanoRacks' commercial space station development and space infrastructure services.
- NASAcoreNASA awarded over $415 million in contracts to develop commercial space stations, including Nanoracks' Starlab. This is part of NASA's strategy to leverage private industry for orbital infrastructure development as ISS approaches retirement.
- Max SpaceminorPartnership to advance expandable habitat technology for lunar and deep-space operations, integrating NanoRacks' space infrastructure capabilities with Max Space's expandable habitat technology.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NanoRacks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sierra Space: Sierra Space is developing the Dream Chaser spaceplane and the Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) inflatable habitat as part of the Orbital Reef station, making it a direct competitor in commercial space station and orbital habitat technology.
- Blue Origin: Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin is developing the Orbital Reef commercial space station in partnership with Sierra Space and was awarded NASA CLD Phase 1 funding alongside NanoRacks, making it the most direct competitor for the Phase 2 award.
- Northrop Grumman: Defense prime with a long-standing NASA relationship, Northrop Grumman is developing a commercial space station module as a CLD Phase 1 awardee and competes head-to-head with NanoRacks for the next phase of NASA commercial LEO funding.
- Axiom Space: Axiom Space is building commercial modules that will initially attach to the ISS before separating into a free-flying station, directly competing with NanoRacks for commercial access to low-Earth orbit and NASA-sponsored research customers.
Broad incumbents
- Boeing: Boeing operates ISS sustaining engineering and the Starliner crew vehicle, giving it overlap with NanoRacks in government-funded space station operations and crew transport infrastructure.
- Lockheed Martin: Major aerospace and defense prime with deep NASA experience across Orion, satellite systems, and space exploration. A broad incumbent in the space domain where NanoRacks competes for government and research-driven contracts.
- SpaceX: Dominant launch provider and operator of crewed Dragon missions that service the ISS and could ferry customers to future commercial stations. SpaceX is a broader incumbent whose launch and transportation capabilities are complementary to NanoRacks' station business.
Others
- Voyager Space: NanoRacks' parent company and the broader Voyager Technologies platform, which includes Starlab as a joint venture. Comparable as a portfolio entity sharing capital, strategy, and synergies with NanoRacks.
Emerging players
- Bigelow Aerospace: Pioneer in expandable habitat technology (BEAM module currently on the ISS), Bigelow competes with NanoRacks in the orbital habitat niche and is a comparable player in commercial space infrastructure.
- Max Space: Partnership partner of NanoRacks focused on expandable habitat technology for lunar and deep-space operations. Comparable as an emerging player in commercial space habitats that intersects with NanoRacks' infrastructure roadmap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NanoRacks social profiles
Digital presenceNanoRacks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NanoRacks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
NanoRacks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NanoRacks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NanoRacks
What does NanoRacks do?
NanoRacks provides commercial access to space through the Bishop Airlock module on the International Space Station and is developing the Starlab commercial space station to replace the ISS by 2030. The company delivers end-to-end mission management services — including planning, payload design, safety, launch booking, crew training, and on-orbit operations — for government agencies, academic institutions, and commercial customers. It also conducts commercial suborbital research missions, such as biological and microgravity experiments for space biology research.
Is NanoRacks a public or private company?
NanoRacks is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was NanoRacks founded?
NanoRacks was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is NanoRacks based?
NanoRacks is headquartered in Webster, United States, in the North America region.
How does NanoRacks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Space Contracts are the primary driver. The others are space Station Services and research Mission Services.
Who are NanoRacks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sierra Space, Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and Axiom Space. Broad incumbents are Boeing, Lockheed Martin and SpaceX. Voyager Space is listed as an others. Emerging players are Bigelow Aerospace and Max Space.
Does NanoRacks have an API?
No public API is recorded for NanoRacks.
What industry is NanoRacks in?
NanoRacks's product category is Commercial Space Infrastructure & Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial), with a secondary code of IMABACAF, Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control. Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.