Vast Bolsters Commercial Space Station Plans With Key Agreements

Company is developing a commercial replacement for the ISS, which is planned to be retired at the end of the decade.

Jack Daleo

Friday, April 11, 2025 at 03:03 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

Under an agreement announced Thursday, Vast will have ‘direct access’ to the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Vast Space, a contender to replace the International Space Station (ISS), made significant strides by signing key agreements at the 40th Space Symposium.
The company secured direct access to the ISS National Laboratory through an strategic agreement with CASIS, enabling crucial technology validation and research to bolster its bid for NASA's ISS replacement contract with its Haven-2 station.
Vast also announced three new payload partners (JAMSS, Interstellar Lab, Exobiosphere) for its Haven-1 Lab, demonstrating high demand for its commercial microgravity research platform, particularly in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, and reinforcing its role in the emerging low-Earth orbit economy.

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Vast Space, one of several commercial firms vying to replace the International Space Station (ISS) following its planned deorbit at the end of the decade, this week signed key agreements that heighten the competition.

At the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado, where Vast’s Haven-1 space station was on display, the company secured deals that give it direct ISS access and three new customers for its Haven-1 Lab, which is being developed as the first microgravity research and manufacturing platform on a commercial space station. The company is also developing Haven-2, its proposed ISS replacement.