Vast

Headquartered in California, Vast is developing artificial gravity space stations to enable scalable solutions for human productivity in space. The company is aiming to build the first artificial gravity station to allow humans to work and live in space for extended periods of time without experiencing the long-term impacts of zero gravity.

The company is developing a 100-meter-long space station that can accommodate at least 40 people. The station rotates to give partial gravity throughout its length for Mars, moon, and asteroid analog settings, as well as Earth gravity at its furthest points. The company claims that its free-floating modules offer pure weightlessness with regular access to the amenities on the spinning station. In May 2023, the company announced intentions to launch the first module of its space station (Haven-1) by August 2025. Designed to accommodate up to four crew members, it will initially act as an extended-stay destination for Dragon flights and provide infrastructure for science, research, and in-space manufacturing. 

Key customers and partnerships

In May 2023, the company announced it has partnered with SpaceX, to provide launch services for its Haven-1 module aboard the Falcon 9 rocket, along with providing crew transportation on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon vehicle. Further, in June 2023, the company partnered with Impulse Space to provide the propulsion system for Haven-1. 

In June 2024, Vast signed an MOU with the European Space Agency (ESA) to support the European space industry by providing access to Vast Space Stations for astronaut missions, R&D activities, and certification processes. In June 2024, the company also signed an agreement with The Exploration Company, which included the delivery of a ~4,000 kg payload to Vast’s second Haven space station in 2028.