Long Beach, California – Vast, a company focused on developing next-generation space stations, has been selected by NASA for its sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, targeted for launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida, marks Vast’s first foray into privately-funded crewed missions to the orbiting laboratory and underscores NASA’s commitment to fostering a growing commercial space economy. This selection builds on NASA’s existing partnerships with companies like Axiom Space, signaling a continued shift towards commercializing low Earth orbit.
The agreement between NASA and Vast represents a significant step in the transition to commercially operated space stations. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, private astronaut missions “create opportunities for new ideas, companies, and capabilities that further enhance American leadership in low Earth orbit and open doors for what’s next.” The mission aims to leverage the remaining operational life of the ISS for scientific research and commercial ventures, paving the way for future, fully commercial space destinations.
The upcoming mission will see a crew of four astronauts, selected by Vast and approved by NASA and its international partners, spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS. Launch will be facilitated by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, as previously announced. The mission isn’t simply about tourism. it’s designed to gather crucial data and experience for Vast as it develops its own planned space station, Haven-2. This experience will be invaluable in refining the infrastructure and processes needed for safe and reliable human spaceflight.
Focus on Science and Research
Vast is prioritizing a robust portfolio of scientific research during the mission, concentrating on areas like biology, biotechnology, physical sciences, human research, and technology demonstrations. Last year, the company issued a call for research proposals for potential projects to be conducted during a private astronaut mission (PAM). A current agreement with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) will help streamline the selection and execution of high-quality scientific experiments aligned with Vast’s research strategy.
The mission’s insights will directly inform the development of Haven-2, Vast’s proposed successor to the ISS. Haven-2 is envisioned as a multi-module, continuously crewed space station designed to support a wide range of commercial and governmental activities. Vast’s progress on Haven-1, expected to launch in 2027, is already underway, with recent milestones including the completion of fit checks for docking hardware and full-scale life support testing. Vast’s website details the ongoing development of Haven-1, showcasing its planned capabilities, and features.
A Growing Commercial Space Sector
Vast’s selection highlights the expanding role of private companies in space exploration. The company, backed by over $1 billion in private capital and a team of more than 1,000 employees at its Long Beach, California headquarters, is actively building the facilities needed to manufacture and operate its space stations. This includes developing habitats for future lunar and Martian missions, as well as dedicated stations for government partners. Vast’s Haven Demo mission in 2025 successfully demonstrated the company’s ability to design, build, and operate spacecraft in orbit, making it the only commercial space station company to achieve this feat.
NASA’s selection of Vast follows previous partnerships with Axiom Space, which has already completed four private astronaut missions to the ISS and has been awarded the fifth. According to Phys.org, NASA is actively seeking to establish multiple commercial platforms to succeed the ISS as it nears the end of its operational life.
As the commercial space sector continues to mature, missions like Vast’s will play a crucial role in driving innovation, reducing costs, and expanding access to space for a wider range of users. The success of this mission will not only benefit Vast but similarly contribute to the broader goal of establishing a sustainable and thriving space economy.
Looking ahead, the focus will be on finalizing the crew selection, completing pre-flight training, and coordinating with SpaceX for launch preparations. The data and experience gained from this mission will be instrumental in shaping the future of commercial space stations and enabling long-term human presence beyond Earth orbit.
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