Vast has revealed their plans to launch the world’s first commercial space station, called Haven-1 — scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to LEO no earlier than August 2025, Haven-1 will initially act as an independent, crewed, space station prior to being connected as a module to a larger Vast space station that is currently in development.
The mission will be quickly followed by Vast-1, the first human spaceflight mission to Haven-1 on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The vehicle and its four-person crew will dock with Haven-1 for as many as 30 days while orbiting Earth. Vast also secured an option with SpaceX for an additional human spaceflight mission to Haven-1.
This represents the first time in history that a commercial space station company has both a contracted launch for its space station and a visiting human spaceflight mission.
Vast’s long-term goal is to develop a 100-meter-long multi-module spinning artificial gravity space station launched by SpaceX’s Starship transportation system. In support of this, Vast and SpaceX will aim to explore conducting the world’s first spinning artificial gravity experiment on a commercial space station during Vast-1 and future human spaceflight missions.
Vast is selling up to four crewed seats on the inaugural mission to Haven-1. Expected customers include domestic and international space agencies and private individuals involved in science and philanthropic projects. Visit vastspace.com/reserve for more details.
SpaceX will also provide crew training on Falcon 9 and the Dragon spacecraft, emergency preparedness, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, as well as partial and full mission simulations including docking and undocking with Haven-1 for return to Earth.
“Vast is thrilled to embark on this journey of launching the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1, and its first crew, Vast-1. We are grateful to SpaceX for this exciting partnership that represents the first steps in Vast’s long-term vision of launching much larger, artificial gravity space stations in Earth orbit and beyond.”
— Jed McCaleb, CEO of Vast
“A commercial rocket launching a commercial spacecraft with commercial astronauts to a commercial space station is the future of low-Earth orbit, and with Vast we’re taking another step toward making that future a reality. The SpaceX team couldn’t be more excited to launch Vast’s Haven-1 and support their follow-on human spaceflight missions to the orbiting commercial space station.”
— Tom Ochinero, Senior Vice President of Commercial Business at SpaceX
Haven-1 features…
- Compatible docking with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
- Extend the on-orbit duration of commercial Dragon spacecraft human spaceflight missions for up to 30 days for four astronauts
- Science, research, and in-space manufacturing opportunities – 1000 W of power, 24/7 communications, and up to 150 kg of pre-loaded cargo mass in Haven-1. Opportunities for lunar artificial gravity by spinning.
- Fully independent space station providing life support functions and consumables for the full mission’s duration.
- Privacy and control of your crew schedule
- Large window dome for viewing and photography
- Always-on internet via onboard Wi-Fi
- Room to stretch and rest
The first expedition to Haven-1
- Fly to Haven-1 in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by the Falcon 9 rocket
- For space agencies and private individuals
- Fly four crew members to Haven-1 for up to 30 days
- Be the first crew to visit the world’s first commercial space station
- Available per seat or as a full, four-person crew mission
- Advanced science, research, and in-space manufacturing opportunities
About the company
Vast is a pioneer in space habitation technologies focused on expanding humanity across the solar system. Founded in 2021, the company is assembling a world-class team to build the world’s first low-cost, artificial gravity crewed station so people can live and work in space for long periods of time without the adverse effects of zero-gravity.
All imagery is courtesy of Vast.