Vast Prepares to Launch its Private Space Station, Haven-1, in 2026

Metaverse Planet October 19, 2025Last Updated: November 3, 2025

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Vast, a space startup, is preparing to launch its private space station, Haven-1, in 2026 after completing its construction. The station is set to open a new era in human spaceflight.

The US-based space startup Vast is in the final stages of constructing its private space station, Haven-1, and is preparing to launch the station in 2026. With this project, which could open a new era in human spaceflight, the company aims to establish a private habitat in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

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Haven-1 is Preparing to Sail into Space

In recent weeks, Vast completed the final welding on Haven-1‘s main structure and painted the structure. The next step will be to integrate the station’s flight hatch and its dome-shaped window.

Haven-1 will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and, weighing approximately 14,000 kilograms, will be the largest spacecraft carried by the rocket. The station is designed for short-duration missions with four-person crews over its three-year lifespan. Each crew will stay on the station for about 10 days, with a target of 160 total astronaut days. Vast‘s Chief Astronaut and former NASA astronaut, Drew Feustel, states that this station will mark the beginning of a new era in human spaceflight. The Falcon 9 rocket has already been reserved for the launch, which could take place in the second quarter of 2026.

The company, founded in 2021, currently has a team of approximately 800 people. The majority of the hardware is produced in-house, with only the solar panels and thrusters sourced externally. Many of the company’s employees are also former SpaceX personnel. Unlike the functional design of the ISS, Haven-1 offers a human-centric experience. Designed with aesthetics, psychology, and ‘Earth tones’ in mind, the station is arranged to provide tranquility and comfort. Furthermore, instead of the classic sleeping bag setup on the ISS, it introduces an inflatable sleep system with adjustable pressure. This will provide astronauts with a simulated feeling of gravity.

Haven-2 is Already on the Schedule

Although Haven-1 is of great importance, the main target is Haven-2. This larger, modular station is being designed with the capacity to replace the ISS, which is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2030. Haven-2 will feature an additional docking port, a larger volume, fixed solar panels, and possibly a second window. The modular design allows for the addition of cargo and future modules. The core module of this station is planned to be launched with a SpaceX Starship. On the other hand, Haven-1 is privately funded, and its launch costs have been paid. Haven-2 is being designed in connection with NASA‘s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program.