Haven Demo is currently at 420 km, though Vast's Live Tracking page shows it at 508 km.
Haven Demo has successfully completed its initial perigee-lowering maneuver to demonstrate the spacecraft's ability to perform a controlled deorbit.The spacecraft engaged its orbit-maneuvering thrusters for approximately 14 minutes, lowering perigee by ~170km.
At Vast, we’re developing a spacecraft built to support long-term human habitation. Early and iterative human-in-the-loop evaluations create safer and more efficient living and working conditions in space, and are at the heart of Haven-1’s design.Here, Vast engineering and prototyping teams work closely with Lead Astronaut Andrew J. Feustel to maximize ergonomics in the translation path (the tunnel) of Haven-1, optimizing placement, size, and functionality of the Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Duct interface.Human-centric designs are essential for long-term habitation in space; look out for more updates from Vast as we enhance experiences and interfaces onboard Haven-1 while always prioritizing safety.
Vast@vast·56mCaryn Schenewerk has taken on the expanded role of Chief Policy Officer at Vast. An authority in space law and policy, she will lead Vast’s engagement with the U.S. government and key stakeholders in civil and commercial space communities.
Went to see a commercial space station being built @vast, and it was quite glorious. Full episode coming on the YouTube channel soon
NASA and Vast have signed an order for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida.This private astronaut mission marks the company’s first selection to the orbiting laboratory, underscoring NASA’s ongoing investment in fostering a commercial space economy and expanding opportunities for private industry in low Earth orbit.“Private astronaut missions represent more than access to the International Space Station — they create opportunities for new ideas, companies, and capabilities that further enhance American leadership in low Earth orbit and open doors for what’s next,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “We’re proud to welcome Vast to this growing community of commercial partners. Each new entrant brings unique strengths that fuel a dynamic, innovative marketplace as we advance research and technology and prepare for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”The mission is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the space station. A specific launch date will depend on overall spacecraft traffic at the orbital outpost and other planning considerations.“The International Space Station plays an essential role in shaping the future of low Earth orbit,” said Dana Weigel, manager, International Space Station Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “By hosting private astronaut missions, the station helps accelerate innovation, opens new commercial pathways, and advances research strengthening the foundation of a thriving space economy.”Vast will submit four proposed crew members to NASA and its international partners for review. Once approved and confirmed, they will train with NASA, international partners, and SpaceX for their flight. The company has contracted with SpaceX as launch provider for transportation to and from the space station.“Vast is honored to have been selected by NASA for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “Leveraging the remaining life of the space station with science and research-led commercial crewed missions is a critical part of the transition to commercial space stations and fully unlocking the orbital economy.”The company will purchase mission services from NASA, including crew consumables, cargo delivery, storage, and other in-orbit resources for daily use. NASA will purchase the capability to return scientific samples that must remain cold during transit back to Earth.NASA made the selection from proposals received in response to its March 2025 NASA Research Announcement.Missions aboard the International Space Station, including private astronaut missions, help advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies in the unique microgravity environment. These commercial efforts in low Earth orbit are helping develop capabilities and technologies that could support NASA’s long-term goals for missions beyond low Earth orbit, including deep space exploration to the Moon and eventually to Mars through the agency’s Artemis campaign.Learn more about NASA’s commercial space strategy at:https://www.nasa.gov/commercial-space-end-
Vast@vast·6mWe are pleased to welcome Nicole Jordan as Vice President of Mission Management at Vast. With 20+ years in human spaceflight and leadership in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Nicole brings deep experience in mission execution, safety, and spacecraft certification.
VastThe @NASA Authorization Act of 2026 reflects the @SenateCommerce strong commitment to advancing U.S. leadership in human space exploration and supporting the growing commercial space economy. Vast shares the Committee’s concern about a potential gap in access to low-Earth orbit and agree that NASA should move quickly to issue the RFP for the next phase of the Commercial LEO Destinations program. We appreciate the Committee’s rationale for authorizing an International Space Station extension in that context. If the RFP is released promptly and awarded in 2026, Vast will be ready by 2030 to help ensure America’s continuous human presence in LEO.
Vast announced today that it has raised $500 million in new funding to advance its mission of enabling humanity to live and work in space long-term. Vast’s strategic roadmap includes low-Earth orbit space stations, future habitats for the Moon and Mars, and crewed systems that will expand the commercial space economy while strengthening partnerships and capabilities in support of national defense objectives.[...]The financing round was led by Balerion Space Ventures with participation from IQT, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Mitsui & Co., Ltd, MUFG, Nikon Corporation (Nikon), Stellar Ventures, Space Capital, and Earthrise Ventures. Jed McCaleb, founder and first investor, also participated in the round. As part of the transaction, Balerion Advisor A.C. Charania, former Chief Technologist for NASA, will join the Vast board.[...]As Vast advances its goal is to support continuous crew operations by 2030, the company is working towards its next major milestones. These include the launch of Haven-1 in 2027, conducting the private astronaut mission Vast recently won with NASA, and securing the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations Phase 2 bid to build its proposed successor to the International Space Station. Funded privately to date, Vast has rapidly established itself as a leader in space hardware design, manufacturing, testing, and operations since its founding in 2021. Recent engineering achievements include flying, operating, and deorbiting Haven Demo—an in-orbit testbed to prove out space station technologies—and the current integration of Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station.[...]To date, more than $1 billion has been invested in Vast’s space stations technologies and facilities—resources that NASA and government partners can leverage to ensure readiness to replace the ISS in 2030. The latest financing includes $300 million in Series A equity and $200 million in debt to support the continued development of Vast’s Haven space stations. The funds will be used to expand facilities, grow the team, and advance the company’s proposed successor to the ISS, Haven-2, designed to ensure continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit for the United States and its allies.
Nikon Corporation today announced that it has made an investment in Vast Inc. through the NFocus Fund.[...]Through this foundational investment in Vast, Nikon will further enhance its AM technologies and contribute to the continued advancement of the space industry.
I think they might actually beat Axion to orbit. I am rooting for them both. I guess Axion was hoping NASA wouldn't allow them on ISS first before they went off did their own station post ISS. But I really think these station vendors will be better served launching on a more optimized orbit
Quote from: Tomness on 03/05/2026 01:29 pmI think they might actually beat Axion to orbit. I am rooting for them both. I guess Axion was hoping NASA wouldn't allow them on ISS first before they went off did their own station post ISS. But I really think these station vendors will be better served launching on a more optimized orbitDo you mean module?Axiom have already had crews on the ISS.
AIUI, the ISS orbit (51.6° inclination) is designed for ease of access by Russian rockets launched from Baikonur.That Baikonur constraint will no longer be the case for 'new era' LEO destinations, so what would be the optimal orbital inclination for a space station launched from Cape Canaveral?
Quote from: Kiwi53 on 03/05/2026 08:49 pmAIUI, the ISS orbit (51.6° inclination) is designed for ease of access by Russian rockets launched from Baikonur.That Baikonur constraint will no longer be the case for 'new era' LEO destinations, so what would be the optimal orbital inclination for a space station launched from Cape Canaveral?It would be the same as the latitude of Cape Canaveral, 28.6082°. Ignoring issues with things you fly over, of course.As a general rule, it's optimal to launch into an orbit tilted the same as your latitude, and the cost (per degree) of going into an orbit that is more tilted is modest (it's a fraction of Earth's rotation velocity), but the cost of getting into an orbit that is less tilted is high (it's a fraction of orbital velocity). So if you picked 28.6082°, you'd rule out launches from Russia for sure, but also launches from Maryland.
Quote from: Greg Hullender on 03/05/2026 09:12 pmQuote from: Kiwi53 on 03/05/2026 08:49 pmAIUI, the ISS orbit (51.6° inclination) is designed for ease of access by Russian rockets launched from Baikonur.That Baikonur constraint will no longer be the case for 'new era' LEO destinations, so what would be the optimal orbital inclination for a space station launched from Cape Canaveral?It would be the same as the latitude of Cape Canaveral, 28.6082°. Ignoring issues with things you fly over, of course.As a general rule, it's optimal to launch into an orbit tilted the same as your latitude, and the cost (per degree) of going into an orbit that is more tilted is modest (it's a fraction of Earth's rotation velocity), but the cost of getting into an orbit that is less tilted is high (it's a fraction of orbital velocity). So if you picked 28.6082°, you'd rule out launches from Russia for sure, but also launches from Maryland. Yeah, if you're just trying to maximize payload to the station, you pick an inclination equivalent to the lattitude of the furthest north or south launch/landing site you want to use with the station. But that's not the only thing people may want to optimize for. For instance, if a station is for tourism purposes, and people want to overfly where they're from, a due east from Canaveral launch might not be optimal, etc.51.6deg was driven by Russian access, but it's not actually that horrible of an inclination for orbital infrastructure, depending on what you want to use it for. For reference, the difference in payload to 51.6 vs 28.6 for New Glenn was about 10% (only PUG I had handy with launch curves that's launching out of the Cape), so it's not necessarily the end of the world performance-wise.~Jon
Currently, the Vast facility is buzzing: the team is putting together Haven-1, Vast’s flagship space station. The structure is in its integration phase, following successful pressure and load testing in 2025. Vast will have invested about $1 billion, a combination of capital provided by founder McCaleb, and revenue from customers, by the time the first crew to Haven-1 is launched. “That’s actually not a lot of capital compared to what’s been done on space stations so far,” Haot explains, referring to the cost of the publicly funded ISS. Vast operates on what Haot calls a “leapfrog strategy” — step-by-step development funded privately. “Build an actual space station, and launch it as quickly as we can, and become the company building the world’s first commercial space station.”[...]“We went from 120 people when I joined” — 40 at Vast, 80 at Launcher — “to a thousand people. We went from empty buildings, to fully built facilities, where we believe we have everything we need to build America’s next space station,” said Haot of Vast’s rapid growth. I ask if McCaleb’s personal investment has given Vast a competitive advantage, allowing them to take risks unavailable to VC-funded competitors like Axiom Space. “The payback for human space flight is not instant, and the amount of technology you have to build, and the amount you have to invest, you just can’t bootstrap it. The barrier to entry is so high, the moat is so high, that it needs this kind of private investor willing to place such a large bet.”
The @FAANews has made a favorable payload determination for Haven-1 following interagency review with NASA, the State Department, the Commerce Department, and national security stakeholders. This marks another step forward in launching Haven-1, expected to be the world's first commercial station when it is ready to launch in Q1 2027.
The Haven-1 sleep system addresses challenges that hinder sleep in space through optimized lighting, airflow, comforting pressure, and easy egress. Here, Vast Astronaut Advisor @astro_megan provides feedback on the design so that we can maximize quality rest for crew.
