Haven-1: the first commercial space station

Haven-1 Features Two-week missions 45 m³ habitable volume Personal crew quarters 1.1 m domed window Deployable communal table Starlink, engineered by SpaceX Haven-1 HAVEN-1

Experience the interior of Haven-1 Haven-1 hardware development progress Haven-1 docking adapter fit check

In October, we successfully completed the fit check for the fully-tested passive docking hardware for Haven-1.

Haven-1 advances into the first phase of integration.

The Vast Control Unit, Haven-1's flight computer, is entering the semi-anechoic chamber for testing to verify it doesn't cause electromagnetic interference with other onboard systems.

Shelving for the interior of Haven-1 undergoes quality inspection and verification with a Coordinate Measuring Machine. The shelves will carry food, water, and other life support cargo.

Full scale life support testing for Haven-1

Our team is testing in-house life support systems in our life support testing module at Vast HQ. These systems will help astronauts breathe safely and live comfortably on Haven-1.

The twelve deployable solar array wings for Haven-1 (flight units) are undergoing acceptance inspection at Vast HQ.

Simulating station operations on the ground ahead of flight is fundamental to how we build hardware for Haven-1. Earlier this month, we tested Impulse Space’s Saiph Thruster using our multi thruster vacuum test stand.

Haven Demo achieved mission success after deploying from the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission. The spacecraft captured 4K video of its solar array deployment and is now power positive.

The flight primary structure has returned to Vast headquarters in Long Beach, CA for the final weld inspections and integration.

The Haven-1 primary structure, including the hatch and domed window, has completed pressure and load acceptance testing in Mojave, CA.

The Haven-1 qualification and flight article

Two Haven-1 primary structures, the qualification and flight article, side by side at Vast headquarters in Long Beach, California. Both built in-house.

The Haven-1 flight article painting is complete

The Haven-1 flight article has been painted. Next, key components including the hatch and domed window will be integrated ahead of pressure and load testing in Mojave, CA.

The Haven-1 primary structure is the first space station flight article to be built in the U.S. in over 20 years. It is the third major structure Vast has completed in two years.

We have made significant progress with Haven-1: from building and testing Haven Demo, to completing testing on Haven-1’s primary structure qualification article.

Haven-1 is now fully welded and will soon begin testing ahead of integration.

We are testing the fans that will ventilate Haven-1, circulating fresh air for the crew, supporting environmental systems, and cooling payloads throughout the station.

Electromagnetic Compatibility testing Haven Demo

Haven Demo is undergoing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing to ensure all onboard avionics are protected from signal interference during integration, transport, launch, and spaceflight.

The final qualification on the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) is underway. The PDU distributes battery and solar power to avionics, propulsion, and communication systems that control Haven Demo’s satellite.

Haven Demo has moved into the Thermal Vacuum chamber (TVAC) to simulate the extreme temperatures and vacuum conditions of space, preparing us for Haven Demo being in-orbit.

Haven Demo fully integrated at Vast headquarters

Haven Demo, our in orbit testbed for critical systems that will fly on Haven-1, is now fully integrated and undergoing vibration testing at our headquarters in Long Beach, CA.

Thermal Pump Tray Assembly development simulation

Before welding flight hardware for Haven-1, we use a development simulator for the Thermal Pump Tray assembly. The simulation verifies that our welding approach is repeatable, reliable, and safe.

To evaluate the performance of our Haven-1 domed window, the team conducted nighttime star photography tests. We evaluated camera views through the window and tested our ability to capture images from inside Haven-1.

A control moment gyroscope (CMG) is a device that maintains a spacecraft’s attitude in space. Haven-1 will fly with six Vast CMGs working together, each containing a fast-spinning flywheel mounted on a gimbal.

Haven-1’s domed window will enable the crew to observe and photograph the Earth and space. This test fixture is critical to confirming the window’s strength and ensuring crew safety in space. Each test kick simulates hundreds of pounds of force, mimicking accidental bumps from astronauts inside the station.

These additively manufactured cold plates are used to directly conduct heat away from avionics components into our thermal control fluid. These are the first batch of cold plates we will fly on Haven-1.

Watch a compilation of our latest hardware progress for Haven-1, targeted to launch May 2026.

We're machining Haven-1's flight panels in-house, leveraging vertical integration for speed and efficiency.

The first aluminum barrel of Haven-1 has been rolled and welded, bringing the station another step closer to flight.

The flight design pressure plate of the Haven-1 hatch is now ready for inspection. The hatch serves as the crew's entry point, featuring redundant pressure seals and built-in shielding to protect the station from micrometeoroids and orbital debris while in space.

Haven-1 solar arrays use triple-junction solar cells to capture a broad range of light wavelengths from the sun to help power our systems while in space. We perform electroluminescence (EL) tests to test their viability, applying currents to the cells to emit light at known wavelengths.

Testing is underway at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center for Haven-1’s trace containment control system. Over the next month, we will continue validating the system’s ability to remove the toxic pollutants introduced by the crew and equipment, ensuring clean air for all missions.

The Haven-1 primary structure qualification article is the first space station structure to be manufactured in the United States in two decades.

The hatch has been installed on our primary qualification unit, thoroughly inspected, and is now ready for testing. Principal Engineer Brian Landis conducts a final review before the unit heads to Mojave for pressure and load testing.

Haven-1 primary structure qualification article final weld

Haven-1’s primary structure unit has officially received its final weld. The unit is now ready for painting and window and hatch integration, before it will be shipped to our Mojave, CA site for testing.

Micrometeoroid orbital debris (MMOD) shielding

Micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMOD) flying at hypervelocity speeds in space can pose a serious threat to spacecraft. For Haven-1, we are building a shield that will cover the entire station to protect against these types of impacts.

Haven-1 is equipped with eight of these specialized trash tanks, each holding up to five days of wet waste to accommodate a crew of four. Once full, the tanks are sealed and vented to a vacuum to prevent odor build-up.

Forward bulkheads for Haven-1 are designed and manufactured in-house.

Haven-1's 1.1 m domed window is optimized for the crew to have an expansive, 180-degree view of space.

Haven-1 Qualification Primary structure--Final stage of welding

Our Haven-1 qualification primary structure in its final stage of welding at our HQ facility in Long Beach, CA.

Front frustum of Haven-1 qualification primary structure

The forward frustum section of Haven-1’s qualification primary structure in its final stage of welding at our HQ facility.

Haven-1 qualification primary structure, final weld

Our Haven-1 qualification primary structure in its final stage of welding at our HQ facility.

Haven-1’s oxygen tube valve system is designed to replenish the oxygen inside Haven-1 every time astronauts breathe, and efficiently metabolize the oxygen to CO2.

Haven-1’s deployable solar panels, provided by Spanish manufacturer DHV Technology. Each solar panel is capable of producing 1.1 kilowatts (kW) of power, for a total peak power of 13.2 kW across the station.

The completed Pathfinder hatch. The hatch serves as the entry point to the station.

The completed domed window for Haven-1, featuring micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shielding.

Haven-1 will fly with six control moment gyroscopes (CMG) for attitude control. Each Vast-designed CMG consists of a fast-spinning flywheel mounted on an articulated gimbal.

Our battery packs for Haven Demo and Haven-1 are assembled in-house. From cell screening to pack assembly and testing, we ensure they meet the highest standards of safety and performance.