Over the past few weeks, the California-based startup finished the final welding of Haven-1’s main structure and then moved on to painting it. The upcoming stages involve installing the spacecraft’s hatch and a domed window as the company advances toward achieving its goal of operating a private space station in low Earth orbit (LEO). Haven-1 is planned to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and, weighing roughly 31,000 pounds (14,000 kilograms), it will be the heaviest spacecraft ever carried by the rocket.
The station is expected to support as many as four short-term astronaut missions over its three-year operational period, with teams of four spending 10 days each on Haven-1 — or a different mix of flights adding up to a total of 160 astronaut days.
Drew Feustel Made Statements
According to Vast lead astronaut Drew Feustel, who spoke with Space.com during the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, Australia, in early October, the space station is meant to serve as a stepping stone toward a new era of human spaceflight.
“If we follow through with our plan, Haven-1 will become the first independent commercial platform in low Earth orbit, and that represents a remarkable turning point for human spaceflight,” said Feustel, a former NASA astronaut.
The Falcon 9 Assigned For The Mission Has Already Been Reserved
The Falcon 9 assigned for the mission has already been reserved, and the launch could happen as early as the second quarter of 2026. Vast has grown at an incredible pace. Founded in 2021, the company has expanded to roughly 800 employees. Almost all of the company’s hardware is produced internally, with only the solar arrays and thrusters being outsourced. “When I joined in December 2023, we were still choosing between stainless steel and aluminum,” Feustel said. “Now, in under two years, the main structure has already been welded.” Haven-1 won’t simply be a private space station. It aims to move human spaceflight in a new direction by learning from industry developments and placing the human experience at the center.