en.Wedoany.com Reported - US aerospace company Vast Space announced an agreement with the French government on June 1, 2026, to conduct two crewed space missions in 2027, marking a key step in the development of private orbital space stations as successors to the International Space Station.
Under the agreement, the two missions include a private astronaut flight to the International Space Station and the first crewed mission to Haven-1, Vast's first commercial space station in low Earth orbit. The International Space Station mission is expected to be commanded by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet (pending international approval), while European Space Agency reserve astronaut Arnaud Prost will serve as flight test engineer on the first crewed mission to Haven-1. Both missions are planned to last approximately two weeks in orbit, launching aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Vast Space, a commercial crewed space station developer headquartered in California, has its first platform Haven-1 as a single-module orbital station designed for short-duration astronaut missions, scientific research, and early commercial operations. The longer-term architecture, Haven-2, targets a scalable multi-module space station aimed at succeeding the International Space Station era ecosystem. The company achieved a key technology milestone through its precursor spacecraft Haven Demo, which successfully operated in orbit and completed a controlled reentry in 2026, validating critical life support and space station systems.
Vast is one of the most well-funded private space station developers in the United States, having raised over $1 billion in private capital. In March 2026, the company completed a $500 million equity and debt financing round, including $300 million in Series A equity and $200 million in debt financing, led by specialized aerospace investor Balerion Space Ventures. Investors include a broad international consortium encompassing strategic investors and sovereign wealth fund-related investors, such as In-Q-Tel, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Nikon Corporation, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital, and Earthrise Ventures. Company founder and primary initial backer Jed McCaleb remains a significant shareholder, with his early investments laying the foundation for Vast's rapid growth. As part of the 2026 transaction, former NASA Chief Technologist and Balerion Space Ventures advisor A.C. Charania joined Vast's board of directors. The funding round is primarily used to complete Haven-1, industrial scaling of Haven-2, expansion of manufacturing facilities and crew systems, as well as mission certification and crew rating of spacecraft systems.
Launched in 1998, the International Space Station has been continuously inhabited for over two decades. Its planned retirement is driven by factors including aging infrastructure and rising maintenance costs, budget reallocation to deep space projects such as the Artemis program, the transition to a commercial service model, and the emergence of a multi-space station ecosystem. In the commercial space station market, Vast is developing in parallel with competitors including Axiom Space, Blue Origin (developing the "Orbital Reef" concept), and Sierra Space.
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