Vast

McCaleb was the company's sole backer for its first years and has said he is prepared to put up to $1 billion of his fortune into the venture. Vast came out of stealth in September 2022, acquired rocket startup Launcher in February 2023 (whose founder Max Haot became CEO in August 2023, with McCaleb moving to chairman), and in May 2023 signed SpaceX to launch Haven-1, a single-module four-crew station (45 m3 habitable volume), plus Dragon crew missions. The company has taken an incremental, hardware-rich path: it pressure-tested the Haven-1 flight primary structure beyond nominal conditions in late 2025, passed a NASA-STD-5001 pressurization proof test on a separate primary-structure qualification article at its Mojave facility in February 2026, and its Haven Demo testbed satellite launched November 2, 2025 on SpaceX's Bandwagon-4, completed 49 test objectives validating avionics, GNC, solar arrays, propulsion, and Starlink-based communications, and executed a controlled deorbit on February 4, 2026. Haven-1 - originally targeted for August 2025, then May 2026 - entered clean-room integration in January 2026, when Vast re-baselined launch readiness to Q1 2027; the thermal control system was integrated in June 2026, and as of September 11, 2026 Vast's site still shows flight solar arrays in acceptance inspection and the Vast Control Unit in EMC testing, with no shipment of the flight vehicle to NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio announced. Momentum accelerated through 2026: NASA selected Vast in February for the sixth private astronaut mission to the ISS (no earlier than summer 2027). On September 9, 2026 at the International Space Summit in Paris, ESA on behalf of Greece signed for Dr. Adrianos Golemis as mission specialist, the third named crew member alongside commander Thomas Pesquet (France) and pilot Ales Svoboda (Czech Republic); the fourth seat is still unannounced and all assignments remain subject to ISS Multilateral Crew Operations Panel approval. In March Vast closed a $500M round ($300M Series A led by Balerion Space Ventures plus $200M debt), bringing total private capital invested to roughly $1 billion across a team of 1,000+ employees. In April 2026 Vast unveiled two new hardware lines at the Space Symposium: the Vast Astronaut Flight Suit and the Large Docking Adapter. Vast also launched a 15 kW satellite-bus product line, opened Houston and Paris offices, and signed agreements with France, the UK Space Agency, ESA/Czech Republic, and others. Its nine-module Haven-2 (first module 2028, full build-out by 2032) is its bid for NASA CLDC, the Phase 2 ISS-successor competition. On 9 October 2026 NASA posted the final solicitation 80JSC027R0004, with proposals due 8 December 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Central and awards expected in spring 2027. NASA says it will select two or more contractors through early development. Haven-1 has not been announced as shipped to NASA Armstrong; the Haven-1 page still shows flight hardware in Long Beach, including an October docking-adapter fit check, and a spokesperson told Ars Technica on 9 October that the vehicle is in final integration. On 5 October 2026 ESA and Vast signed a three-year memorandum that starts with a joint feasibility study and is not a Haven booking; PAM-6 and the 2027 Haven-1 seats stay separate. On 22 July 2026 Vast also launched a Special Programs division led by former Slingshot Aerospace CEO Melanie Stricklan.

sam.gov↗Updated Oct 14, 2026

1. Oct 102026

   NASA posts final commercial space-station RFP

   NASA Johnson Space Center posted the final Commercial LEO Destination Contract RFP (80JSC027R0004) on Oct. 9, with proposals due Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. Central. The solicitation supersedes the draft RFP and seeks firms to design, build, certify and operate commercial LEO destinations. Axiom, Voyager's Starlab and Vast each said they will compete; NASA told Ars it plans to select two or more contractors, with a decision expected in April.

   sam.gov ↗arstechnica.com ↗+ Axiom Space+ Voyager Technologies

2. Sep 252026

   Vast starts Lunar Programs division for NASA Moon Base work

   Vast announced on September 23 that it has created a Lunar Programs division to pursue NASA Moon Base work using Haven-1 heritage, with Haven-1 still in final integration in Long Beach for a targeted 2027 launch. Planned offerings start with a solar power station, then a Haven-derived lunar airlock and later a multi-module habitat, plus a proposed South Pole communications and positioning constellation. Founding team member Colin Smith is senior vice president of Lunar Programs. Independent coverage treated the move as a bid for NASA lunar contracts, not an award.

   www.vastspace.com ↗www.vastspace.com ↗behindtheblack.com ↗

3. Sep 112026

   ESA signs Greece's first ISS astronaut with Vast

   On September 9, 2026 in Paris, ESA signed with Vast on behalf of Greece for Dr. Adrianos Golemis to fly as mission specialist on Vast-PAM-1, NASA's sixth private astronaut mission to the ISS. Golemis joins commander Thomas Pesquet and pilot Ales Svoboda; the fourth seat is still unnamed and all assignments remain subject to ISS Multilateral Crew Operations Panel approval. The 2027 flight is planned on a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon.

   Vast ↗ESA ↗

4. Jul 282026

   Vast launches national security division, hires ex-Slingshot CEO

   Space station developer Vast said on July 22 it has established a new Special Programs division to pursue space work for the US defense and intelligence communities, naming Melanie Stricklan, the former CEO of space-domain-awareness company Slingshot Aerospace and a 21-year Air Force veteran, as senior vice president to lead it. The division will draw on Vast's commercial Haven station and satellite-bus platforms and manufacturing base to deliver classified and unclassified systems, adding a national-security revenue line alongside Haven-1, which is in final integration ahead of a targeted Q1 2027 launch.

   SpaceNews ↗GovConWire ↗

• 

  In Development

  Haven-1

  A single-module commercial space station scheduled to become the world's first, launching complete on a SpaceX Falcon 9 to a 425 km, 51.6° orbit. It hosts four astronauts for roughly two-week Dragon missions, with private crew quarters, a 1.1 m domed window, Starlink laser connectivity, and the Haven-1 Lab microgravity research facility. The flight structure has passed beyond-nominal pressure testing and is in final integration for launch readiness in Q1 2027, followed by an uncrewed Dragon docking verification before the first crew.

  Crew capacity

  4

  Habitable / pressurized volume

  45 m³ / 80 m³

• 

  In Development

  Haven-2

  Vast's proposed successor to the International Space Station and its bid for NASA's CLD Phase 2 competition. Modules launch on Falcon Heavy roughly every six months starting in 2028, building from a single NASA-certifiable 16 m module to a nine-module station by 2032 with 12 crew, a 3.8 m cupola, EVA airlock, external payload facilities, and Starlink laser terminals. Unlike Haven-1's 160 crew-days of consumables, each Haven-2 module supports 720 crew-days and cargo resupply.

  Crew capacity (full config)

  12

  Habitable / pressurized volume

  510 m³ / 1,160 m³

• 

  Retired

  Haven Demo

  A 552 kg testbed satellite that flew Haven-1's non-human-rated systems in orbit before the station's launch. Launched November 2, 2025 on SpaceX's Bandwagon-4 rideshare to a 510 km orbit, it completed 49 test objectives - validating GNC, avionics, power, solar arrays, thermal control, propulsion, RF communications, and radiation mitigation - and ended with a controlled deorbit burn on February 4, 2026.

  Mass / power

  552 kg / 1,100 W

  Test objectives completed

  49

• 

  In Development

  Vast Satellite (15 kW bus)

  A high-power satellite bus line announced in May 2026, leveraging avionics, power systems, and flight software proven on Haven Demo. The inaugural 15 kW-class platform (700 kg dry mass, 350+ kg payload, 20+ kW peak payload power, 5-year design life, 350–1,200 km LEO) targets communications, Earth observation, national security, and orbital data-center constellations. A confidential first customer ordered 4 satellites with options for up to 200 more.

  Solar power

  15 kW

  Payload capacity

  350+ kg

• 

  Active

  Vast Astronaut Flight Suit

  An intravehicular flight suit for crew aboard Haven-1 and NASA private astronaut missions, unveiled April 13, 2026 at the 41st Space Symposium and developed in partnership with Vast lead astronaut Drew Feustel. Custom-tailored per crew member, it is configurable as a single-piece or two-piece outfit (jacket zips from trousers) with pockets and hook-and-loop fasteners for securing tools and personal items in microgravity, prioritizing mobility, comfort, and on-orbit functionality over launch/entry protection.

  Unveiled

  April 13, 2026

• 

  Active

  Large Docking Adapter

  A docking interface for large space station modules and spacecraft, unveiled April 15, 2026 at the Space Symposium, with a 2.9 m pressurized opening (roughly 3x the International Docking Adapter's diameter, ~6.6 m² of area) and a structure up to 30 times more rigid than the IDA - intended for future large modules and vehicles like Starship, not for Haven-1 or Haven-2. Vast plans to sell the adapter commercially while publishing its interface as an open, non-proprietary standard for space agencies and other manufacturers to build compatible hardware against; a design user guide became available May 4, 2026.

  Structural rigidity vs. IDA

  Up to 30x stiffer

Employees

1,000+ (as of March 2026)

Est. annual revenue

Pre-revenue

(no station yet in orbit); early commercial bookings include Haven-1 crew seats and lab payload slots, a first satellite-bus order (4 satellites, options for up to 200), and NASA's sixth ISS private astronaut mission

Read more

Employees

1,000+

Total private capital invested

~$1 billion (through Mar 2026)

Haven-1 target launch

Q1 2027 (Falcon 9)

Haven-1 crew capacity / habitable volume

4 crew / 45 m³

Haven Demo test objectives completed

49 (Nov 2025 – Feb 2026 mission)

Haven-2 full configuration

9 modules, 12 crew, 510 m³ habitable by 2032

Haven-1 Lab payload capacity

10 slots (30 kg / 100 W each)

Large Docking Adapter aperture

2.9 m pressurized opening

(~6.6 m²), ~30x stiffer than the ISS's IDA

Lunar Programs division

Announced Sep 23, 2026

SVP Colin Smith; NASA Moon Base bid (not an award)

NASA CLDC final RFP

Still unposted as of 29 Sep 2026

NASA page still lists Final RFP Release as planned September 2026 with blank actual date

Haven-1 Ohio environmental test shipment

Not announced as of 29 Sep 2026

flight solar arrays still in acceptance inspection and Vast Control Unit in EMC testing at Long Beach

NASA CLDC final RFP

Posted 9 Oct 2026 as solicitation 80JSC027R0004; proposals due 8 Dec 2026, 1:00 p.m. CST; NASA expects awards in spring 2027

Haven-1 Ohio environmental test shipment

Not announced as of 14 Oct 2026

The updates index through 6 Oct and the Haven-1 page show Long Beach integration, not an Armstrong shipment.

How past announced dates turned out.

$1.5Bdisclosed across 2 rounds with a stated amount