Vast Space and Czech Republic Sign Agreement to Explore Astronaut Flight Opportunities

Commercial space station developer Vast Space has entered into a agreement with the Czech Republic to explore a future mission by a Czech astronaut aboard a Vast mission.

The agreement, signed in collaboration with the Czech Ministry of Transport, sets the stage for potential partnerships that could bolster the Czech space industry and pave the way for the nation's astronaut to participate in an orbital mission.

Memorandum Of Understanding

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) opens the possibility for Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda, a reserve astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA), to fly on a Vast private astronaut mission. Svoboda, who was one of 12 reserve astronauts selected by ESA in 2022, is not a full-time ESA astronaut but remains eligible for specific missions.

This is a growing trend among ESA reserve astronauts, following recent missions like Sweden’s Marcus Wandt on Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with Polish reserve astronaut Sławosz Uznański slated to fly on Ax-4 in spring 2025.

The Mission

Svoboda’s potential mission could involve a journey to the ISS or to Vast’s Haven-1 station, a single-module commercial outpost that the company plans to launch by the end of 2025. The modular station is designed for short-term stays, accommodating up to four missions. This would mark a significant opportunity for Czech space participation, reinforcing the nation's standing in the space sector.

“We are thrilled to join forces with the Czech space mission and explore joint spaceflight opportunities to bring science, research, and technology from Czech industry to orbit, as well as potentially fly Aleš Svoboda to the International Space Station or Haven-1 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft,” - Max Haot, Chief Executive of Vast.

Should the mission proceed, Svoboda would become the second Czech astronaut to reach space. The first, Vladimír Remek, made history in 1978 as a cosmonaut on the Soyuz 28 mission, representing then-Czechoslovakia. Remek’s journey was notable as he became the first person in space outside of missions by the United States or the former Soviet Union.

The Czech government views this MoU as an important step forward for the nation’s space industry.

“The memorandum demonstrates our commitment to advancing the Czech space sector and ushering in a new era of Czech innovation and technology leadership,” - Martin Kupka, Czech Minister of Transport

Vast and ESA MOU

Vast has been actively engaging with European entities to establish itself as a key player in commercial space development. In June, Vast signed a separate MoU with ESA to explore the potential for European governments and companies to use Vast’s commercial space stations.

This partnership aligns with Vast’s goals to work with European governments and industries on their flagship projects, Haven-1 and Haven-2, the latter of which is proposed under NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program.

This latest agreement is also expected to support the Czech Republic’s developing space sector, though details on specific support initiatives remain undisclosed.

“I’ve worked closely with the Czech space community for years and have long admired their innovation, commitment, and collaborative spirit as we push the boundaries of what’s possible in space...Vast is well-positioned to further this mission by combining a bold vision with technical expertise, and together, we can build a future in space that will inspire future generations.” - Andrew Feustel, Former NASA Astronaut and Vast Adviser

This agreement not only represents a significant step for the Czech Republic in space exploration but also underscores Vast Space's role as a rising force in the commercial space station sector, bringing nations closer to realizing their ambitions in orbit.