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For more than two decades, the International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting peacefully in low Earth orbit. However, over the years, the exorbitant costs associated with its maintenance weigh more and more, prompting consideration of its gradual abandonment. After Russia, the United States, Canada and Europe also made the decision to withdraw. By 2030, this microgravity laboratory, which has long served space research, will be decommissioned. It is with this in mind that NASA launched the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) program in 2021, aiming to design the successor to the ISS. Among the private companies vying for the CLD contract, Vast recently stood out by unveiling Haven-2.
At the opening of NASA’s CLD program, a multitude of companies showed their ambition to win the illustrious contract to develop the worthy successor to the ISS. Vast, a Californian start-up founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, is among them. She took advantage of the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which is currently taking place in Milan, to lift the veil on Haven-2, a potential candidate for the contract. With this space station, Vast clearly asserts its intention to compete for the second phase of the program. The winners are expected to be announced by NASA around June 2026.
« Our goal for this decade is to win the NASA Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) contract and build the successor to the International Space Station “, said Max Haot, CEO of Vast, in a press release. He added: “ To achieve this, we will first demonstrate our capability by building and operating the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1, scheduled for launch in 2025 ».
An invitation to dream, ready to be worn.
Haven-2, the certified version of Haven-1
Aiming to design an orbital installation combining design, comfort and functionality, Vast developed Haven-1, described by the start-up as the first commercial space station soon ready for launch. With the expertise of Peter Russell-Clarke, Haven-1 incorporates a design focused on well-being, with a clean and warm interior space. The exterior of the monomodular module incorporates a central window to provide astronauts with a panoramic view of Earth. Vast plans to launch Haven-1 in the second quarter of 2025 and said this unique module will accommodate up to four short-duration missions, with four astronauts in total.
As Haot explained, Haven-1 will serve as the basis for the design of Haven-2, which remains a project for the moment. According to the start-up, like the ISS, Haven-2 will be built block by block and will have a total of eight modules, to which will be added a ninth serving as a central module. If the company wins the CLD contract, it plans to put the very first Haven-2 module into orbit as early as 2028 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. Then, in 2030, Vast will launch three additional modules six months apart. Once these are docked, Vast will send the central module measuring seven meters in diameter, equipped with an SAS for possible spacewalks.
According to the plans revealed by Vast, the first module of Haven-2, which should be launched by 2028, will be five meters longer than its predecessor Haven-1. It will also include more spacious living space (twice the living volume of Haven-1) and docking ports. Between 2030 and 2032, four more modules will be sent, two of them including additional features. One, like the ISS, will have a 3.8 m dome, while the other will be equipped with an airlock and external payload supports.
Once completed, the entire station will form a cross, including: a laboratory dedicated to microgravity research, a robotic arm for moving objects in space, an observation dome, an airlock and a total 16 portholes.
Vast advisor Andrew Feustel noted: “ Haven-2 is designed with compatibility in mind, ensuring international partners can seamlessly integrate with this next-generation platform “. He added: “ This vision of global cooperation in space will create opportunities for scientific and technological advancement, benefiting new and existing sovereign partners and industries around the world. ».
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Although Vast is showing some optimism with Haven-2, the company will still face competition. Axiom Space, Northrop Grumman, and Blue Origin are among the companies that also aspire to win the NASA contract.
Video presentation of the Haven-2 space station: