Mentioned:Vast Space
Vast Space has completed critical development milestones for Haven-1, the world's first commercial space station, with launch targeted for 2027. The flight article is being built entirely in-house in Long Beach, California, marking the first space station structure built domestically in over 20 years.
What's happening
- Vast completed fit checks for Haven-1's fully-tested passive docking hardware in October 2024.
- The flight primary structure completed pressure and load acceptance testing and returned to Long Beach for final weld inspections and integration.
- Haven-1's life support systems, thermal control systems, power systems, and waste management systems are undergoing integration and testing.
- The station will carry 4 crew members to 425 km altitude in 51.6-degree inclination orbit with 45 cubic meters of habitable volume and 80 cubic meters of pressurized volume.
Why it matters
- Haven-1 represents the first domestic space station structure built in the U.S. in over 20 years, reducing reliance on foreign-supplied orbital infrastructure.
- Completing major subsystem integration ahead of 2027 launch demonstrates Vast's ability to execute a complex orbital platform program on schedule.
- In-house development of docking adapters, life support systems, thermal systems, power distribution, and propulsion components builds domestic capability for commercial space infrastructure.
Going deeper
- Vast built both a qualification article and flight article for Haven-1's primary structure in-house, completing it as the company's third major structure in two years.
- The station includes in-house developed components such as Hall thrusters based on NASA JPL technology, laser retroreflector arrays, and a fault-tolerant 15 kW power system.
- Haven Demo, an in-orbit testbed satellite, achieved mission success and is validating critical systems before Haven-1 flight operations begin.
The fine print
- Haven-1 launch is targeted for 2027, but no obligated funding or contract value has been disclosed.
Source: vast.space · Oct 1, 2024 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.