Vast Gearing Up to Launch Haven-1 Private Space Station in 2026

Vast, the California-based space startup, is entering the final assembly phase of its groundbreaking Haven-1 space station, targeting a historic 2026 launch. This ambitious project could soon make history as the first privately built space station, paving the way for a new era of commercial space exploration as the International Space Station approaches retirement.

In recent weeks, the Vast team has completed critical structural components and life-support systems at its Hawthorne facility. "What we're building here isn't just hardware – it's humanity's next outpost in space," said Max Haot, Vast's founder and CEO during a recent facility tour. "Haven-1 will open doors for researchers, private astronauts, and commercial ventures that were previously locked behind government programs."

The station's design emphasizes versatility, featuring a modular core that can host everything from pharmaceutical experiments to microgravity manufacturing. "Imagine conducting uninterrupted cancer research in zero-G or testing new satellite technologies before deployment," explains Dr. Anna Chen, Vast's lead mission architect. "Haven-1 isn't a replacement for the ISS – it's an evolution."

With NASA's future in low Earth orbit transitioning to commercial partnerships, Vast's timing appears strategic. The company has already secured agreements with multiple international research institutions and is in discussions with private astronaut companies. "We're not just building a station," adds Haot, "we're creating a sustainable ecosystem in space."

The cylindrical station will orbit approximately 400 kilometers above Earth, offering stunning views while serving as a bridge to more ambitious projects like Vast's planned Starship orbital outpost. As construction accelerates, Haven-1 represents both the culmination of decades of private space dreams and the first chapter of humanity's multi-planet future.

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