Vast Targets May 2026 for Haven-1, First Commercial Space Station Launch

California-based aerospace firm Vast is advancing the development of Haven-1, planned as the first commercial space station in low Earth orbit (LEO). Founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, Vast's long-term objective involves creating artificial gravity space stations to support human expansion beyond the solar system. The single-module station is currently scheduled for deployment in May 2026, with launch services contracted to SpaceX utilizing a Falcon 9 rocket.

This private sector initiative aligns with NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program, which seeks to foster private replacements for the International Space Station (ISS) as its decommissioning approaches around 2030. Haven-1 is engineered as a human-centric innovation laboratory intended to host both private astronauts and government-sponsored missions. The station will provide a habitable volume of 45 cubic meters, capable of supporting a crew of up to four astronauts for missions lasting approximately 30 days. Design features include personal quarters and a 1.1-meter domed window for Earth observation.

Key development milestones are being met on an aggressive schedule. The primary structure of the flight article underwent pressure testing on October 29, 2025, in Mojave, California, following the completion of the final weld on October 8, 2025. Furthermore, the Haven Demo testbed confirmed power-positive status on November 2, 2025, after successfully deploying its solar array and capturing 4K video. Vast CEO Max Haot confirmed that the design is now locked, with the team focusing on integration, aiming to finalize the flight primary structure by the end of July 2025.

Logistical support is secured through a partnership with SpaceX, which will handle both the launch of Haven-1 and the crew transport via its certified Crew Dragon spacecraft. The station will integrate SpaceX's Starlink high-speed internet via laser terminals, a first for a commercial space station. The initial crewed mission, Vast-1, is projected to commence approximately 45 days after the May 2026 launch, with four subsequent 10-day missions planned during the station's projected three-year operational lifespan.

Vast's broader technological roadmap includes conducting the first artificial gravity experiment on a commercial platform following Haven-1's deployment. The company is already planning Haven-2, a larger, multi-module artificial gravity station slated for launch by the late 2030s, intended to compete for anticipated CLD program funding in April 2026. This modular development strategy aims for rapid iteration and scalability within the growing global Commercial Space Station Market, which was valued at USD 3.24 Billion in 2024.