Vast has announced a delay in the launch date for Haven-1, the first-ever commercial space station. It is now scheduled for early 2027.
The Haven-1 project was first announced in 2023. It is a manned orbital station consisting of a single 14-ton compartment with an internal volume of 80 m³. Haven-1 will not be designed for permanent human habitation. It will rely on the Crew Dragon spacecraft’s life support system and will be able to accommodate four astronauts for 30 days. The station will house 10 racks for scientific equipment. Vast Space has already signed a number of contracts with various private companies to host their instruments and conduct experiments.
In 2025, Vast completed welding of the station’s main body, after which it tested it for pressure and load. It was then transported to a clean room, where engineers began installing the station’s sealed fluid systems, including thermal control, life support, and propulsion system tubes, as well as component trays and tanks. These systems will subsequently be tested for pressure, tightness, and functionality.
Vast has also successfully launched the Haven Demo satellite. It is designed to test key technologies and components that are planned to be used on Haven-1 in the future: computers, software, power supply, navigation and control systems, as well as solar panel design. The device will also provide Vast engineers with an opportunity to test their ground stations and gain flight control experience.
The next stage of Haven-1 integration will include avionics, guidance, navigation, and control systems, as well as air regeneration equipment. In the third and final stage, the station will receive its interior finish and all necessary external components will be installed, including a protective shield against micrometeorites and space debris, a radiator, and solar panels. Once this work is complete, Haven-1 will be delivered to the Neil Armstrong Space Center for final testing.
Until recently, the launch date for Haven-1 was set for the second half of 2026. However, based on the current pace of construction, Vast has revised its schedule. The launch date is now set for the first quarter of 2027. A Falcon 9 rocket will be used to launch the station into orbit.
Once Haven-1 is in space, Vast plans to send up to four short-term manned missions to it on Crew Dragon spacecraft. The experience gained in building and operating the station will be used in the design of the much larger multi-module Haven-2 station. Vast intends to submit its project to NASA for the CLD (Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations) program. Its goal is to promote the development of private stations that will replace the ISS.
According to Vast
