4 minute read•Updated 2:04 PM EDT, Sat April 5, 2025
Vast, the company developing commercial space station habitats has taken a significant step forward with its Haven-1 space station project; signing an agreement with NASA, to conduct comprehensive environmental testing at the agency’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio.
Testing at a Historic NASA Facility
Under the agreement, Vast will utilize the world-class facilities at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility; formerly known as Plum Brook Station, located in Sandusky, Ohio.
The center houses some of the world’s largest and most capable testing infrastructure for thermal vacuum, vibration, acoustic, and other extreme environmental conditions that spacecraft must withstand.
“We’re thankful for NASA’s support to test the Haven-1 flight vehicle at this historical and world-renowned facility. It is a testament to the growing importance of Vast as a commercial destination partner,” - Max Haot, Chief Executive of Vast
Testing is scheduled to begin in early 2026 and will validate that the Haven-1 module can endure both the stresses of launch and the harsh environment of space.
The launch of Haven-1 is now targeted for no earlier than May 2026.
Revised Timeline Reflects Lessons from Structural Testing
Vast previously aimed to launch Haven-1 in the latter half of 2025. However, that timeline was adjusted following successful structural qualification testing of a prototype module at the company’s facility in Mojave, California.
Those tests confirmed the integrity of the module’s design and, just as critically, offered new insights into the time required to build the flight-ready version.
"The structural tests gave us confidence in our design and helped us refine our development timeline,...It’s all part of maturing the technology and the processes needed for a reliable space station.” - Max Haot, Chief Executive of Vast
Haven-1: A Path to the Future
Once in orbit, Haven-1 will serve as a single-module space station capable of supporting up to four astronauts for short-duration missions. These early missions will not only serve commercial and scientific objectives but will also lay the groundwork for Vast’s longer-term plans.
That vision includes Haven-2, a larger, more advanced station being developed as part of Vast’s participation in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) initiative.
Though Vast was not selected for Phase 1 funding of the CLD program; NASA is currently backing Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Starlab Space, the company maintains a non-funded Space Act Agreement with the agency, allowing for technical collaboration and information exchange.
“We couldn’t even bid a credible Haven-2 design if we had not done all this work in design maturation for Haven-1,” - Max Haot, Chief Executive of Vast
The Haven-2 module will be a stretched variant of Haven-1, sharing 80% to 90% of its components and systems.
Eyeing CLD Phase 2
NASA is expected to release a draft solicitation for CLD Phase 2 this summer, with the final version arriving in the fall. This next phase will fund the certification of commercial space stations for NASA use and enable the agency to purchase services from private providers.
Importantly, CLD Phase 2 will be open to all companies, not just the Phase 1 awardees; giving Vast a new opportunity to compete for federal funding.
NASA anticipates awarding CLD Phase 2 contracts in mid-2026, potentially just months after Haven-1’s inaugural launch.
As NASA pushes toward a post-ISS future with a marketplace of commercial space stations, Vast’s progress with Haven-1 and its strategic testing partnership with NASA may position it as a competitive contender in the emerging low Earth orbit economy.
