Haven-1 (VAST Space Station)

On Feb 4, 2026, Vast mission control executed a terminal deorbit burn guiding Haven Demo, our in-orbit testbed for space station technologies, to splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean. This demonstrates safe, controlled deorbit capability for future space station modules.

Mission complete. On February 4, 2026, Vast Mission Control Center in Long Beach, California performed a controlled deorbit of Haven Demo, our in-space testbed for Haven-1 and future station technologies. Over its three-month mission, Haven Demo completed a total of 49 test objectives and remained power positive for the duration of its flight, even enduring historical spikes in volatile space weather. This makes Vast the first operational commercial space station company to design, manufacture, fly, operate, and deorbit a spacecraft. The Haven Demo mission was a highly successful first step in our hardware-rich, iterative approach toward building next-generation space stations to ensure America’s continuous human presence in space. Next year, in Q1 of 2027, Haven-1 will be ready to launch. Read more: https://www.vastspace.com/updates/haven-demo-mission-complete-successful-deorbit-validates-path-to-haven-1

Vast CEO Max Haot joins CNBC's Morgan Brennan to discuss the commercial space station developer's first significant investment round, the future of human inhabitation in space, how his company differs from competitors, and more.

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.

Docking is one of the most critical and complex parts of building a space station. In October, we completed a successful docking adaptor fit check, marking another key milestone toward launch. Haven-1’s fully tested passive docking adapter, built to international docking system standards and likely the first-ever manufactured for a commercial station, will enable precise crew-vehicle docking.

Haven Demo remains healthy as we continue to accomplish our test objectives for the spacecraft. We've completed demonstrations of many redundant failover systems onboard, performed a successful over-the-air software update, calibrated critical GNC instrumentation, and conducted a propulsion tank heating demonstration, further validating key capabilities as planned for the mission.

Vast is the only operational commercial space station company to have successfully flown and operated its own spacecraft in orbit: Haven Demo. On November 2, 2025, Haven Demo launched on Bandwagon-4. Haven Demo, built on months of design, testing, and preparation by the Vast team, is now in orbit. Haven Demo is healthy and successfully communicating with Vast Mission Control Center in Long Beach, CA. Mission operators are receiving vital data on the performance of technologies for our space stations including compute, power, software, guidance and control, propulsion, radios, ground stations, and more. From concept to mission success, Haven Demo validates key technologies for Haven-1, bringing us another step closer to the world’s first commercial space station. https://www.vastspace.com/haven-demo

Vast is the only operational commercial space station company to have successfully flown and operated its own spacecraft in orbit: Haven Demo. https://www.vastspace.com/haven-demo On November 2, 2025, Haven Demo launched on Bandwagon-4. Haven Demo, built on months of design, testing, and preparation by the Vast team, is now in orbit. Haven Demo is healthy and successfully communicating with Vast Mission Control Center in Long Beach, CA. Mission operators are receiving vital data on the performance of technologies for our space stations including compute, power, software, guidance and control, propulsion, radios, ground stations, and more. From concept to mission success, Haven Demo validates key technologies for Haven-1, bringing us another step closer to the world’s first commercial space station. https://www.vastspace.com/haven-demo

Mission Success. Haven Demo, our Haven-1 space station technologies test bed is now on orbit and healthy. Watch footage from our onboard cameras in full duration 4K. More to come.

The next phase of Haven-1 begins. The flight primary structure has returned to Vast headquarters in Long Beach, CA for the final weld inspections and integration.

Haven Demo build and test are complete, and it is now undergoing final integration for launch. Meanwhile, we’re moving toward critical systems testing and continuing to build momentum on Haven-1 flight hardware. Haven-1’s primary structure qualification article has successfully completed its test campaign at our Mojave, CA facility, while the flight structure has been fully welded and is being prepared for pressure testing. Designed, manufactured, and tested in-house in the 🇺🇸.

Haven-1, the world's first commercial space station and America’s next space station, is now fully welded and will soon begin testing ahead of integration.

Experience Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, in virtual reality (VR): www.vastspace.com/haven-1-vr Join Andrew Feustel, former NASA Acting Chief Astronaut and Lead Astronaut at Vast, as he narrates the immersive journey through the next-generation space-station, launching in May 2026. Haven-1 VR is officially available for download from Meta, the App Store, and Steam.

The era of commercial space stations begins with Haven-1, launching next year. Whether you're a sovereign nation, space agency, scientist, company, or private astronaut—the time is now. Join our mission and help pioneer the next giant leap in space exploration.

The International Space Station, a beacon of research and technological advancements in a low Earth orbit, microgravity environment, is nearing the end of its operational life. Vast, a commercial space station company based in Long Beach, California, is working on its bid to replace the ISS as part of NASA's Commercial LEO Development (CLD) program. As part of its proof of concept, Vast plans to launch the single-module, Haven-1 space station into LEO no earlier than May 2026. It will be followed by the first crewed mission to this new orbiting laboratory no earlier than late June 2026. Spaceflight Now Reporter Will Robinson-Smith toured Vast's Haven-1 Experience at the 40th Space Symposium with Vast CEO Max Haot and spoke with Lead Astronaut Andrew Feustel to learn about the design, manufacturing and vision for Vast's first foray into creating a commercial space station. Haven-1 is designed to pave the way for the multi-module Haven-2, which is Vast's entrant to become the successor to the ISS. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:34 - Our tour begins... 00:58 - Haven-1 overview 02:46 - Lead Astronaut Drew Feustel 03:53 - Science partners 06:51 - Vast and CLD development 08:36 - Glimpse of Haven-2 08:56 - Haven-1 hatch and SpaceX partnership 12:40 - Crew quarters and Vast Haven-1 sleep system 14:49 - Hardware progress on Haven-1 19:14 - Working towards Haven-2 This coverage is made possible by the support of our members. Join this channel to help us expand our coverage and get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoLdERT4-TJ82PJOHSrsZLQ/join

The Haven-1 Experience is a full-scale, walkthrough of the world’s first commercial space station expected to launch in May 2026. Former NASA astronaut, and current Lead Astronaut at Vast, Andrew J. Feustel, gives an up-close look at key interior features, including the Haven-1 Lab, and the crew quarters.

The International Space Station has inspired generations, but its time is running out. So who’s building the next space station? We take you inside VAST’s Long Beach factory to see the cutting-edge technology behind their upcoming Haven-1 space station! Join us for an exclusive tour with VAST CEO Max Haot, and their bold mission to become America’s next space station provider. Discover: ✔️ VAST's plan for an artificial gravity space station 🌍🪐 ✔️ Haven-1: The first commercial space station launching on Falcon 9 ✔️ Exclusive look at space station hardware & technology 🏗️ ✔️ The Race to replace the ISS | VAST's Commercial Space Station 🚀 Check out VAST: https://www.vastspace.com/ VAST Careers Page: https://www.vastspace.com/careers NSF would like to thank VAST and Max Haot for the incredible all access pass to their facilities. 📺 Watch now to see what the future of living and working in space looks like! 🔗 NSF Store: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/shop/ ⚡ Become a member of NASASpaceflight's channel for exclusive discord access, fast turnaround clips, and other exclusive benefits. Your support helps us continue our 24/7 coverage. Click JOIN above to get started.⚡ 🤵 Hosted by John Galloway (@KSpaceAcademy). 🖊️ Cinematography by D Wise (@DWiseCinema), Javier Zamora. 🎥 Video from VAST, NASA. ✂️ Edited by D Wise (@DWiseCinema) 💼 Produced by Kevin Michael Reed (@kmreed). Rocket Ranch! https://www.rocketranchbocachica.com/ 🔍 If you are interested in using footage from this video, please review our content use policy: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content-use-policy/ L2 Boca Chica (more clips and photos) from BC's very early days to today. 🔗 https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47107.0 (Join L2 and support NSF here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/) #VAST #SpaceStation #Space #SpaceExploration #FalconHeavy #SpaceX #Vast #SpaceStation #ArtificialGravity #ISSReplacement #Haven1 #NASA #SpaceExploration #LowEarthOrbit #FutureOfSpace LDAPAABJRG2UMCU3

Fewer renders, more hardware. Today, we’re sharing our latest progress update as we build the team, facilities, and hardware for the launch of the world’s first commercial space station. Every step brings us closer to redefining space exploration. Stay tuned for more milestones as we make history.

During the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Vast, the US-based space habitation technology company, unveiled Haven-2 — the proposed successor to the International Space Station (ISS) and the next step in the company’s vision to pioneer a path to long-term living and thriving in space. We speak with VAST Chief Executive Officer, Max Haot at IAC 2024. With the planned retirement of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030, NASA conceived the Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) program and is expected to select its Phase 2 winner(s) in mid-2026. Laser-focused on securing this prestigious contract to build the successor to the ISS, Vast has developed Haven-2, designed to offer the most compelling solution to ensure continued U.S. and international partner presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO). “Our focus this decade is to win the NASA Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) contract and build the successor to the International Space Station,” said Max Haot, Vast CEO. “To achieve this, we will first demonstrate our capability by building and operating the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1, which is set to launch in 2025.” If selected in 2026, Vast plans to have the first module of Haven-2, an evolved and NASA-certified version of Haven-1, fully operational in orbit by 2028. This near-term timeline is made possible by leveraging Vast's significant private investment in the design, build, launch, and operation of Haven-1. The first Haven-2 Module will be 5m longer than Haven-1, offering nearly twice the livable volume of its predecessor while utilizing all the same proven systems. Haven-2 features the Haven-2 Lab, which offers state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to support a wide range of microgravity research and in-space manufacturing. With more volume and power capacity than its predecessor, Haven-1, the Haven-2 Lab accommodates larger payloads and laboratory equipment, provides extensive integration options for experiments and specialized equipment, and increases operational flexibility while ensuring ample power and thermal control for high-demand projects. Additionally, the Haven-2 Lab meets all of NASA’s Basic Laboratory Capabilities for the CLD program, aligning with the highest standards for orbital research facility readiness. To foster international collaboration, the Haven-2 Lab also offers the option to dedicate an entire module or a specific laboratory facility to international partners, creating opportunities for global participation in microgravity research. #VASTspace #iac2024 #australiainspacetv

Today at IAC 2024, Vast introduced Haven-2, our proposed successor to the International Space Station (ISS). The first module will be fully operational by 2028, ensuring an overlap of operational space stations before the ISS retires in 2030. This near-term timeline is made possible by leveraging Vast's significant private investment in the design, build, launch, and operation of Haven-1. When completed in 2032, Haven-2 is designed to surpass the ISS in volume, research facilities, and cost efficiency.