Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

NASA’s ISS Transition Faces Clock as Vast Sets 2027 Haven-1 Launch and Rules Remain Unclear

Unpublished requirements with the ISS roughly five years from retirement raise concerns about a gap in U.S. low‑Earth‑orbit operations.

Space startup Vast has opted to build a smaller Haven-1 commercial space station. The company said it recently passed a milestone.
The Haven-1 space station during assembly.
Image

Overview

  • NASA has not issued detailed phase‑two requirements for commercial stations and expects to select one or two awardees later in 2026.
  • Vast Space completed Haven‑1’s primary structure on January 10 and has begun clean‑room integration ahead of a full NASA test campaign later this year.
  • CEO Max Haot says Haven‑1’s first launch has shifted from mid‑2026 to the first quarter of 2027 for an uncrewed flight to verify pressure control and attitude in orbit.
  • Vast plans to seek approval for a crewed visit on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon only after on‑orbit checks, with missions designed for short stays and a station life of about three years.
  • Axiom Space, Blue Origin, Voyager Technologies, and Vast are the leading contenders to replace ISS capabilities as observers warn of a potential continuity gap.