Vast

Overview

Vast is a commercial aerospace and space infrastructure company dedicated to the development of crewed space stations and orbital habitats. Founded in 2021 by technologist Jed McCaleb, the company aims to enable long-term human presence in space by developing artificial-gravity habitats and high-performance orbital platforms. Vast distinguishes itself through a vertically integrated, hardware-rich development model, bringing the design, manufacturing, and testing of primary spacecraft structures in-house to accelerate production cycles and reduce costs.

Core Infrastructure and Roadmap

Vast’s development strategy is defined by an iterative approach to space station architecture:

• Haven Demo: A successful pathfinder mission launched in 2025 that validated critical avionics, communications, and power systems. The mission concluded with a controlled deorbit in early 2026, marking Vast as the first private company to independently fly, operate, and deorbit its own space station hardware.
• Haven-1: Targeted for launch in 2027, this single-module station is designed to be the world's first commercial space station. It features a 1.1-meter domed observation window, integrated life support systems, and a dedicated microgravity research laboratory.
• Haven-2: A modular, multi-module station architecture proposed as a successor to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program. The design allows for incremental expansion, aiming for a continuously crewed, four-module configuration by 2030.

Manufacturing and Operations

The company operates a multi-site infrastructure across the United States, including its headquarters in Long Beach, California—a facility housing mission control, cleanrooms, and astronaut training simulators. Vast also maintains specialized facilities in Mojave for structural and propulsion testing, and in Hawthorne for advanced additive manufacturing. By leveraging in-house metal 3D printing and rapid structural fabrication, Vast maintains control over its supply chain, enabling the production of flight-ready pressure vessels and satellite buses, such as its 15-kW high-power satellite platform. Through strategic partnerships with sovereign space agencies and commercial entities, Vast is actively coordinating private astronaut missions and expanding its footprint in the global space economy.