Vast, the trailblazing company specializing in space habitation technologies, has made an extraordinary announcement that is set to redefine the future of space exploration. They have unveiled their ambitious plan to launch Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, marking a significant milestone in the realm of space habitation. With a targeted launch window in August 2025, Haven-1 will be propelled into low-Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This groundbreaking project will initially function as an independent crewed space station before integrating as a module into a larger Vast space station, presently in the works.
Shortly after the historic launch of Haven-1, Vast-1, the inaugural human spaceflight mission, will follow suit. A crew of four individuals will embark on a voyage to Haven-1 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, where they will dock and spend up to 30 days orbiting our planet. This landmark achievement not only encompasses the first-ever contracted launch of a commercial space station but also includes a human spaceflight mission, establishing a pivotal moment in space exploration.
Jed McCaleb, the CEO of Vast, expressed his enthusiasm for this remarkable endeavor, stating, “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.”
Tom Ochinero, Senior Vice President of Commercial Business at SpaceX, emphasized the importance of commercial ventures in low-Earth orbit, stating, “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.”
Vast’s ultimate objective is to develop an impressive 100-meter-long, multi-module spinning artificial gravity space station, employing SpaceX’s Starship transportation system. As part of their comprehensive preparations, Vast intends to conduct the world’s first spinning artificial gravity experiment on a commercial space station, utilizing the capabilities of Haven-1.
To support this pioneering initiative, Vast is offering up to four crewed seats on the inaugural mission to Haven-1. Anticipated participants include domestic and international space agencies, as well as private individuals engaged in scientific research and philanthropic endeavors. For additional information and reservation details, interested parties are encouraged to visit vastspace.com/reserve.
In collaboration with SpaceX, Vast’s partner in this groundbreaking endeavor, comprehensive crew training will be provided. This training will encompass various aspects, including Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft operations, emergency preparedness, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress procedures, as well as detailed mission simulations that involve docking and undocking maneuvers with Haven-1 in preparation for the return to Earth.
Vast’s revolutionary undertaking holds tremendous potential to reshape the future of space habitation, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for scientific exploration and commercial ventures. The journey towards harnessing the vast wonders of space has commenced, and the dawn of a new era in space exploration is on the horizon.
