A startup in California is gearing up for an exciting astronaut mission next year. If all goes well, Long Beach-based Vast will conduct its first private flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in the summer of 2027. This selection by NASA is significant for both Vast and the agency, as it signals a shift towards private companies taking on more space operations.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman noted, “Private astronaut missions are not just about getting to the ISS. They also spark new ideas and help strengthen America’s position in low Earth orbit.” This move is part of a broader strategy to pave the way for more commercial opportunities and technologies in space.
So far, four private missions have been organized to the ISS, all by Axiom Space, which is preparing for its fifth mission in January 2027. Axiom’s missions utilize SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule and typically last around two weeks.
The mission with Vast will likely follow this model, though details about who will be onboard are still under wraps. The company will submit a list of four potential crew members to NASA for approval.
Both Vast and Axiom have their eyes set on bigger goals. They’re looking to create and manage private space stations in low Earth orbit. CEO Max Haot of Vast emphasized that exploiting the ISS’s remaining life for commercial purposes is essential for transitioning to commercial space stations.
In addition to these projects, Axiom plans to send modules to the ISS starting in 2027, which will eventually become their own Axiom Station. Vast is also working on a station called Haven-1, which they aim to launch in 2027, followed by their multi-module Haven-2.
Other companies are eyeing similar opportunities in low Earth orbit. Blue Origin and Sierra Space are developing Orbital Reef, and a partnership including NanoRacks and Voyager Space is working on Starlab. NASA has invested heavily in these commercial initiatives, allocating over $500 million in just five years to support the development of private outposts in space.
If these ventures don’t succeed, the only remaining station in low Earth orbit could be China’s Tiangong, which was completed in late 2022. As private companies push the boundaries of space exploration, we may soon see a landscape where commercial operations play a leading role in our exploration of the final frontier.
