SpaceX and Vast Team Up to Create First Private Space Station

Vast and SpaceX are teaming up to launch the first commercial space station.

Haven-1 is scheduled to reach low-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than August 2025, and will initially act as an independent crewed station, before connecting to a larger Vast base, currently in development. If all goes well, the Vast-1 mission will then send a four-person crew via SpaceX Dragon to dock with Haven-1 for up to 30 days.

While the International Space Station has at least another seven years of life, plans for Haven-1 represent “the first steps in Vast’s long-term vision of launching much larger, artificial gravity space stations in Earth orbit and beyond,” says Vast CEO Jed McCaleb.

Eventually, Vast plans to develop a 328-foot-long multi-module spinning artificial gravity space station, delivered by SpaceX’s Starship transportation system.

In the meantime, the company is selling(Opens in a new window) up to four crewed seats on the inaugural Haven-1 mission. It’s open to global space agencies’ astronauts, or “private individuals involved in scientific and philanthropic projects”—i.e. rich folks. Interested parties can email Vast for details and pricing.

Each ticket comes with training on SpaceX ships, emergency preparedness, and spacesuits, as well as mission simulations, like docking and undocking with Haven-1 for return to Earth. Not convinced? The spacecraft’s many amenities include a large window dome for out-of-this-world photography, always-on internet, and “room to stretch and rest.” Oh, and there are opportunities for advanced science, research, and in-space manufacturing.

“A commercial rocket launching a commercial spacecraft with commercial astronauts to a commercial space station is the future of low-Earth orbit,” according to Tom Ochinero, SVP of commercial business at SpaceX. “The SpaceX team couldn’t be more excited to launch Vast’s Haven-1 and support their follow-on human spaceflight missions to the orbiting commercial space station.”