Vast Space, a California-based company founded by tech entrepreneur Jed McCaleb, is pursuing an ambitious goal: to establish a commercially viable, artificial gravity-equipped space station in low Earth orbit. This audacious plan, driven by the long-term vision of enabling extended human habitation in space, aims to not only provide a successor to the International Space Station (ISS) after its projected decommissioning in 2030, but also to pave the way for future settlements on the Moon and Mars. The company’s CEO, Max Haot, emphasizes the critical need to research the effects of artificial gravity on long-duration space travel, a question which can only be answered through the development and deployment of such stations. This long-term objective serves as the underlying impetus for Vast Space’s current endeavors.
To achieve this ambitious objective, Vast Space has adopted a strategic approach that revolves around demonstrating its capabilities to NASA. Recognizing the financial and technological hurdles involved in creating an artificial gravity station, Vast Space is focusing on near-term milestones to secure its position in the emerging space economy. This strategy involves partnering with SpaceX to conduct two private astronaut missions to the ISS, showcasing their operational proficiency and technological readiness. These missions, falling under NASA’s private astronaut program, are crucial stepping stones towards the launch of Haven-1, Vast Space’s initial space station, slated for 2025. This smaller station will serve as a proof of concept, demonstrating the company’s capability to design, build, and operate a space habitat, a crucial factor in their bid to secure future contracts with NASA.
The ultimate goal of Vast Space is to secure a contract under NASA’s Commercial Destinations in Low Earth Orbit (CLD) program. This program, initiated by NASA with a substantial investment, aims to foster the development of private space stations in low Earth orbit, ensuring a continued human presence in space after the ISS retirement. While Vast Space is currently not a direct recipient of CLD funding, the company intends to outpace its competitors by demonstrating its ability to deploy Haven-1 ahead of other proposed stations. This strategy mirrors the approach taken by SpaceX, a company that Vast Space emulates not only in its technological development but also in its market strategy. By achieving operational readiness before its rivals, Vast Space aims to position itself as the frontrunner in the competition for NASA’s future space station contracts, a decision expected in the latter half of 2026.
Haven-1, the initial space station developed by Vast Space, will be a modest but functional habitat designed to support a crew of four for a two-week mission. With a habitable volume of 45 cubic meters, it will include essential features such as a docking port, living quarters, a laboratory, and a communal area with a panoramic window. The station will leverage advanced communication technology, employing Starlink laser links for high-bandwidth communication with satellites in low Earth orbit. The successful deployment and operation of Haven-1 will serve as a crucial validation of Vast Space’s capabilities, demonstrating its ability to deliver on its promises and solidifying its credibility as a contender in the commercial space station market. This demonstration of capability is central to Vast Space’s strategy of winning NASA’s confidence and ultimately securing a contract for a larger, more ambitious space station project.
The aggressive timeline set by Vast Space underscores the urgency with which the company is pursuing its goals. The decision to launch Haven-1 in 2025, even without a secured contract with NASA, represents a calculated risk. By demonstrating their capability ahead of the competition, Vast Space aims to leapfrog other contenders and position itself as the most viable partner for NASA’s future space station endeavors. This proactive approach, while financially demanding, is seen as essential for securing the “most important contract in the space station market,” as Haot describes it, the contract to effectively replace the ISS. This underscores the high stakes involved and the company’s conviction in its ability to deliver a successful and sustainable space station solution.
The long-term vision of Vast Space extends beyond simply replacing the ISS. The company envisions a future where humans can live and work comfortably in space for extended periods, potentially even indefinitely. This vision necessitates the development of artificial gravity environments, a technological leap that Vast Space recognizes as a long-term endeavor. While the creation of artificial gravity stations is projected to take decades and substantial investment, the company views its current efforts as essential steps towards this ultimate goal. Each successful mission, starting with the deployment of Haven-1, brings them closer to realizing this ambitious vision, contributing to the advancement of human space exploration and settlement. The company believes that understanding the long-term effects of artificial gravity will be pivotal in enabling future human missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, realizing the potential for humanity to become a multi-planetary species.
