Vast, a trailblazer in space habitation technology and the developer of Haven-1, poised to become the world’s first commercial space station in 2025, has announced an expanded partnership with SpaceX. Under this collaboration, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will facilitate up to two Dragon missions to the International Space Station (ISS) in support of Vast’s bid for NASA’s Private Astronaut Missions (PAM) program. These missions, contingent on NASA’s selection, would represent the fifth and sixth PAMs awarded by the agency.
While continuing the development of Haven-1, Vast plans to leverage these additional ISS missions to deepen collaboration with NASA and global space agencies. Through the PAM program, Vast aims to engage private individuals and international customers, further solidifying its position in the evolving low-Earth orbit (LEO) economy. These efforts also align with Vast’s preparation for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) Phase II program, which will determine the successor to the ISS.
“Enabling payload and crewed missions to the ISS is central to Vast’s strategy,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “These missions strengthen our expertise in human spaceflight operations and collaboration with NASA, positioning us as a leading contender to deliver the next-generation successor to the ISS and advance human space exploration.”
This partnership expands Vast’s launch manifest with SpaceX, which includes Falcon 9 delivering Haven-1 into orbit and a subsequent Dragon mission to transport crew to the station. Haven-1 will feature Starlink’s high-speed laser-based internet, enhancing its operational capabilities.
Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “I am excited to work with Vast as they build more opportunities and destinations for more people to travel amongst the stars.”
A Strategic Step in Advancing Human Spaceflight
Vast’s collaboration with SpaceX on PAM missions is set to meet multiple NASA objectives. These include increasing the number of PAM providers, sharing knowledge from previous missions, and contributing to NASA’s goal of fostering a sustainable LEO economy.
Launched in 2019, NASA’s PAM strategy aims to accelerate commercial space development by providing industry partners with experience in managing human spaceflight missions. These missions cover crew selection, training, mission planning, execution, and ensuring crew health and safety. The increasing success and demand for PAMs highlight their pivotal role as the ISS approaches retirement in 2030.
Vast is also engaging sovereign governments interested in crewed missions to the ISS. Notably, the Czech Republic signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vast in November 2024, signifying growing international interest in these missions.
Paving the Way for Haven-1 and Beyond
NASA’s PAM program provides Vast with an essential platform to demonstrate its capabilities in managing complex crewed missions. Insights from these missions will be integral to the design and operation of Haven-1 and its successor, Haven-2.
As Vast prepares for NASA’s CLD Phase II competition, the company is focused on establishing itself as a leader in next-generation space infrastructure. With SpaceX and NASA as key partners, Vast is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of human space exploration and the commercialization of LEO.