Vast has selected Impulse Space to provide the Haven-1 Space Station propulsion system — the companies will work closely to integrate the propulsion system as a key subsystem of Haven-1 that is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to LEO in August of 2025 and is expected to be the world’s first, commercial ,space station.
The Haven-1 propulsion system will include Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters to augment resident control moment gyros and deorbit thrusters for end-of-life operations. The Saiph thruster is already qualified and will, by the time Haven-1 launches, have significant flight heritage from multiple LEO missions starting in October 2023.
Additionally, the Haven-1 propulsion system will use a storable, non-toxic, propellant combination, nitrous oxide and ethane, similar to other space vehicles developed by Impulse and Vast. The propulsion system will also consist of propellant tanks, Saiph thrusters, fluid lines, valves, sensors, control electronics and control software.
After launch, Haven-1 will serve as an independent, crewed space station with four crewed missions planned before connecting as a module to a larger Vast space station that is currently in development. Following the launch of Haven-1, Vast-1, the first crewed mission to Haven-1 via a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, will dock with Haven-1 for 30 days while orbiting the Earth.
“Impulse Space is excited to work with Vast on a project that will accelerate commercial activity in space. Our qualified Saiph thruster is a perfect fit for Haven-1’s propulsion requirements. We look forward to collaborating with such a dedicated and like-minded team.” — Tom Mueller, Founder and CEO, Impulse Space
“To support our goal to launch Haven-1 in just over two years and become the world’s first commercial space station, we decided to partner on multiple subsystems to increase the likelihood of meeting our timeline with full mission success. We are thrilled that Tom and his team at Impulse Space agreed to provide their Saiph-based propulsion system for Haven-1.” — Jed McCaleb, founder and CEO, Vast