Commercial Space Station Startup Reaches Orbit
▼ Summary
– Vast’s Haven Demo mission successfully launched into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to test its space station designs.
– The spacecraft deployed its solar array and captured 4K video of the process, marking a key milestone for the company.
– Vast’s CEO announced that the mission success establishes them as a proven spacecraft company, with plans to become a commercial space station operator next year.
– The company is pursuing a NASA contract and using an iterative approach, starting with Haven Demo and progressing to human-rated habitats Haven-1 and Haven-2.
– Haven-1 is scheduled for launch next year, has completed structural testing, and will undergo final integration in Vast’s clean room.
A significant milestone for the commercial space industry was achieved this past Sunday as Vast’s Haven Demo mission successfully reached orbit, marking a crucial step toward establishing privately owned space stations. The pathfinder spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, joining 17 other satellites on the Bandwagon 4 mission. Shortly after deployment, the half-ton demonstrator stabilized itself and unfurled its solar panel, a moment captured in stunning 4K video and shared by the company online.
Vast’s CEO, Max Haot, celebrated the achievement on social media, stating, “What a launch night and team at Vast! And thanks for the ride, SpaceX. Haven Demo’s mission success has turned us into a proven spacecraft company. The next step will be to become an actual commercial space station company next year. Something no one has achieved yet.” This successful deployment validates the company’s engineering and design approach under actual spaceflight conditions.
The company, which receives financial backing from cryptocurrency entrepreneur Jed McCaleb, is competing for a NASA contract to develop a commercial outpost in low-Earth orbit. Vast is pursuing an iterative development strategy that involves a series of flight demonstrations, setting it apart from competitors. The current Haven Demo mission serves as the initial proof-of-concept, to be followed by Haven-1, a single-module habitat designed for human occupancy, and eventually Haven-2, a more complex multi-module station.
Looking ahead, Vast has announced that Haven-1 is scheduled for launch next year, also using a Falcon 9 rocket. The primary structure for Haven-1 has already been fabricated, complete with its hatch and domed observation window. This module recently passed pressure and load acceptance tests in Mojave, California, and is now set for final weld inspections and systems integration at Vast’s clean room facility in Long Beach.
(Source: Ars Technica)
