posted 05-10-2023 01:00 PM               

VAST Announces the Haven-1 and VAST-1 Missions

Scheduled to be the world's first commercial space station, Haven-1 and subsequent human spaceflight missions will accelerate access to space exploration.

Vast, a pioneer in space habitation technologies, announced today (May 10) their plans to launch the world's first commercial space station, called Haven-1. Scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to low-Earth orbit no earlier than August 2025, Haven-1 will initially act as an independent crewed space station prior to being connected as a module to a larger Vast space station currently in development. The mission will be quickly followed by Vast-1, the first human spaceflight mission to Haven-1 on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The vehicle and its four-person crew will dock with Haven-1 for up to 30 days while orbiting Earth. Vast also secured an option with SpaceX for an additional human spaceflight mission to Haven-1.

Above: Illustration - Haven-1 with SpaceX Dragon docked and a visiting crew of four.

This represents the first time in history that a commercial space station company has both a contracted launch for its space station and a visiting human spaceflight mission.

"Vast is thrilled to embark on this journey of launching the world's first commercial space station, Haven-1, and its first crew, Vast-1," said Jed McCaleb, CEO of Vast. "We are grateful to SpaceX for this exciting partnership that represents the first steps in Vast's long-term vision of launching much larger, artificial gravity space stations in Earth orbit and beyond."

"A commercial rocket launching a commercial spacecraft with commercial astronauts to a commercial space station is the future of low-Earth orbit, and with Vast we're taking another step toward making that future a reality," said Tom Ochinero, Senior Vice President 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."

Above: Illustration - Haven-1 inside the Falcon 9 fairing before launch.

Vast's long-term goal is to develop a 100-meter-long multi-module spinning artificial gravity space station launched by SpaceX's Starship transportation system. In support of this, Vast will explore conducting the world's first spinning artificial gravity experiment on a commercial space station with Haven-1.

Vast is selling up to four crewed seats on the inaugural mission to Haven-1. Expected customers include domestic and international space agencies and private individuals involved in science and philanthropic projects. Visit vastspace.com/reserve for more details.

SpaceX will also provide crew training on Falcon 9 and the Dragon spacecraft, emergency preparedness, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, as well as partial and full mission simulations including docking and undocking with Haven-1 for return to Earth.

Above: Illustration: Haven-1 Space Station Overview.

HAVEN-1 features:

• Compatible docking with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
  
• Extend the on-orbit duration of commercial Dragon spacecraft human spaceflight missions for up to 30 days for four astronauts
  
• Science, research, and in-space manufacturing opportunities - 1000 W of power, 24/7 communications, and up to 150 kg of pre-loaded cargo mass in Haven-1. Opportunities for lunar artificial gravity by spinning.
  
• Fully independent space station providing life support functions and consumables for the full mission's duration.
  
• Privacy and control of your crew schedule
  
• Large window dome for viewing and photography
  
• Always-on internet via onboard Wi-Fi
  
• Room to stretch and rest

VAST-1 - Our First Expedition to Haven-1

• Fly to Haven-1 in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by the Falcon 9 rocket
  
• For space agencies and private individuals
  
• Fly four crew members to Haven-1 for up to 30 days
  
• Be the first crew to visit the world's first commercial space station
  
• Available per seat or as a full, four-person crew mission
  
• Advanced science, research, and in-space manufacturing opportunities

posted 06-15-2023 01:35 PM               

VAST Selects Impulse Space for Haven-1 Space Station Propulsion

Vast, a pioneer in space habitation technologies, announced today (June 15) that it selected Impulse Space, a leader in the development of in-space logistics services, to provide its Haven-1 Space Station propulsion system. Impulse Space and Vast will work closely to integrate the propulsion system as a key subsystem of Haven-1, scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to low-Earth orbit in August 2025 and is expected to be the world's first commercial space station.

"Impulse Space is excited to work with Vast on a project that will accelerate commercial activity in space," said Tom Mueller, Founder and CEO of Impulse Space. "Our qualified Saiph thruster is a perfect fit for Haven-1's propulsion requirements. We look forward to collaborating with such a dedicated and like-minded team."

The Haven-1 propulsion system, designed and delivered by Impulse Space, will include Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters to augment resident control moment gyros and deorbit thrusters for end-of-life operations. The Saiph thruster is already qualified and will, by the time Haven-1 launches, have significant flight heritage from multiple LEO missions starting in October 2023.

Additionally, the Haven-1 propulsion system will use a storable non-toxic propellant combination, nitrous oxide and ethane, similar to other space vehicles developed by Impulse and Vast. The propulsion system will also consist of propellant tanks, Saiph thrusters, fluid lines, valves, sensors, control electronics and control software.

"To support our goal to launch Haven-1 in just over two years and become the world's first commercial space station, we decided to partner on multiple subsystems to increase the likelihood of meeting our timeline with full mission success," said Jed McCaleb, founder and CEO of Vast. "We are thrilled that Tom and his team at Impulse Space agreed to provide their Saiph-based propulsion system for Haven-1."

After launch, Haven-1 will serve as an independent crewed space station with four crewed missions planned before connecting as a module to a larger Vast space station currently in development. Following the launch of Haven-1, Vast-1, the first crewed mission to Haven-1 via a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, will dock with Haven-1 for 30 days while orbiting the Earth.