A California-based space startup, Vast Space, is collaborating with SpaceX to gather research proposals for experiments on the first commercial space station, Haven-1, set to launch later this year.
This innovative space station will launch in August on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Shortly after, a SpaceX Crew Dragon will transport a small group of astronauts to live on Haven-1 temporarily. Together, SpaceX and Vast are inviting researchers to submit ideas about what they can do while in low-Earth orbit.
They are particularly interested in “high-impact” research that can advance long-term human living and exploration in space. According to their announcement, submissions should focus on two main areas: studying how microgravity affects the human body and developing research projects that can be executed by either autonomous systems or the crew.
If everything goes according to plan, Haven-1 will become the first commercial space station. This is significant for NASA and the broader space research community, especially as the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to retire around 2030.
Vast CEO Max Haot emphasized the importance of partnering with the scientific community to build on the legacy of the ISS. Their goal is to conduct transformative research that could address major health and scientific challenges in space and even offer solutions to improve life on Earth.
Haven-1 has been designed to be modular, which means it can grow over time as more modules are added. In fact, as they prepare for Haven-1’s launch, Vast is already working on plans for Haven-2.
During the 75th International Astronautical Congress in October 2024, Haot announced that Haven-2 will be developed to meet NASA’s requirements for the Commercial LEO Destination contract in 2026. This has drawn interest from other space companies, including Northrop Grumman, Axiom Space, Nanoracks, and Sierra Space, that are also aiming to build their space stations.
Nasa is looking for at least one of these new stations to be operational before the ISS is retired. All these companies are counting on interest from the market to ensure the success of their projects.
For those interested in submitting research proposals for Haven-1, the deadline is March 15. While SpaceX and Vast will not provide direct funding for these projects, they will offer access to the orbital lab, crew time for conducting experiments, and insights into the designs for spaceflight—available at no cost.
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