Vast has unveiled the Haven-1 Lab, set to become the world’s first microgravity research, development, and manufacturing platform on a commercial space station.
Slated for launch in the latter half of 2025, the Haven-1 Lab aims to serve as a collaborative hub for companies, governments, and various entities to engage in science, research, and manufacturing in space.
Founded in 2021, Vast is a frontrunner in space habitation technologies with a vision of expanding human presence across the solar system. The Haven-1 space station, advertised as the world’s first private space station, is set to launch no earlier than August 2025 and will cater to NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program.
Vast’s long-term mission is to develop low-cost artificial gravity crewed stations to mitigate the adverse effects of zero gravity, enabling prolonged human habitation in space.
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A new era for microgravity research
Max Haot, CEO of Vast and former SpaceX Engineer, highlighted the importance of the Haven-1 Lab: “The ISS may be on its way to be retired in 2030, but the institutional knowledge deserves a new platform for future microgravity research and manufacturing innovation. Our Haven-1 Lab is designed to provide that bridge well before the eventual retirement of ISS.”
Establishing commercial alternatives to the ISS is the goal of NASA’s CLD Program. “This ensures that as we begin a new era of commercial space stations, we can continue and expand upon vital international and commercial science and research in low Earth orbit (LEO).” Haot added in the statement.
Vast’s Haven-1 Lab hopes to be a premier destination for commercial microgravity research, featuring 10 Middeck Locker Equivalent payload slots, each approximately the size of a microwave, with a payload capacity of up to 30 kg (66 lbs). Each slot is equipped with 100 W of continuous power and an Ethernet data connection.
The astronaut crew on Haven-1, along with ground operators via Starlink laser links, will manage and monitor payloads, providing Gigabit/s speed and low latency connectivity. Products and samples from space will be returned via SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
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Inaugural partnerships with Redwire and Yuri
Vast announced Redwire and Yuri as its first partners, both leaders in microgravity payload development.
Redwire, known for its extensive experience in space biotechnology and pharmaceutical development, will contribute its Advanced Space Experiment Processor 4 (ADSEP4). This fully automated, multi-use processing facility will host pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, processing samples like stem cells and bacteria.
“Redwire is excited to be a key payload partner for Vast’s Haven-1 Lab as we continue to accelerate momentum in creating a new and dynamic economy in low Earth orbit. Haven-1 is the first private sector platform that Redwire hardware will launch with, extending the legacy of the ISS into a new era of commercial platforms,” said Mike Gold, Chief Growth Officer at Redwire.
Yuri, a European pioneer in space biotech, will deploy its ScienceTaxi, an advanced life science incubator. It will facilitate a wide range of experiments, with features like temperature control, automation, real-time data collection, and a centrifuge for varying gravity conditions. Co-Founder and CEO Maria Birlem emphasized the partnership’s potential.
“Now is the time to showcase market-driven commercial collaboration in LEO. As a European partner, we see a tremendous opportunity to significantly increase European utilization of LEO, particularly with Haven-1, due to its simplified access to microgravity for non-US stakeholders. Haven-1 is set to be the first Post-ISS scenario, and the entire world stands to benefit.”, she stated.
Vast is actively seeking additional payload partnerships across various cutting-edge industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, advanced materials, edge computing, and machine learning. To democratize access to space research, the company is offering a unique payload end-user program, enabling individuals and companies of all sizes to conduct experiments and collaborate in microgravity environments.
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