VAST Space Plans Haven-1: First Commercial Space Station Aiming For 2027 Launch

VAST Space Chief Executive Officer Max Haot confirmed that the company plans to launch Haven-1, described as the first commercial space station for astronauts, during the first quarter of 2027. The station is intended to support human missions in low Earth orbit and strengthen long-term commercial activity there.

The announcement was made at the Space Debris Conference 2026 in Riyadh, highlighting growing attention to safe commercial operations in orbit. Haot said the initiative aligns with global moves toward commercial space stations as the International Space Station nears retirement later this decade.

Haot outlined that the company expects to secure operational revenues from four crewed flights to Haven-1 between 2027 and 2030. These missions are planned to carry scientific and commercial payloads, alongside partners from different sectors, forming the first phase of VAST Space’s long-term commercial station strategy.

According to Haot, Haven-1 is designed to host four astronauts on short stays in orbit, providing facilities for scientific research, technology testing and commercial activities in microgravity. The project supports international interest in maintaining human access to low Earth orbit once the International Space Station ends its service.

Haot stressed that safety and space sustainability are central to the Haven-1 design. The station incorporates systems intended to shield against space debris and includes a dedicated capability for controlled deorbiting at the end of its life, reducing the risk of adding debris to crowded orbital regions.

Progress on the project accelerated after the Haven Demo mission in 2025, which VAST Space launched to check critical technologies and systems in orbit. The successful demonstration allowed the programme to move from development work to operational validation, strengthening confidence in deploying the commercial station within the planned schedule.

The Haven-1 programme illustrates how private companies are taking a larger role in building safe, sustainable infrastructure in low Earth orbit. By combining commercial missions, research opportunities and debris-mitigation measures, the project supports wider international efforts to keep orbital activity responsible during the coming decade.

With inputs from SPA