Vast Space has announced a delay in the launch of its first commercial space station, Haven-1, to May 2026, while also reporting successful completion of key qualification tests. The company began testing a qualification model of the station at a facility in Mojave, California, in February, including a pressure test and a leak test.
The initial tests, which included pressurizing the module to 1.8 times its normal pressure and a 48-hour leak test, were deemed successful, with Vast reporting an "indiscernible" leak rate. The company is now planning further tests, including structural load tests and simulations of the launch environment.
The delay in the launch, originally projected for August 2025, is attributed to a better understanding of the time required to build the flight model after completing the qualification article. The revised schedule includes completing the primary structure of the flight article in July, followed by integration and testing in the second half of the year. Environmental testing will then be conducted at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, before the module is transported to Florida for launch in May 2026.
The first crew is expected to launch to Haven-1 on a Crew Dragon spacecraft no earlier than the end of June 2026. The station's development is intended to provide experience for Vast's larger Haven-2 station, which the company plans to propose for NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program.
Despite the delay, Vast maintains that the progress made on Haven-1 strengthens its case for a phase 2 CLD award, which is expected to be announced in the summer of 2026. The company emphasizes the importance of the Haven-1 development in demonstrating its capabilities and accelerating its timeline compared to competitors.