The Private Space Station Sector Adds Another

In a press release today, a California startup called Vast announced plans to launch the first private space station No Earlier Than August of 2025.   

LONG BEACH, Calif. — May 10, 2023 — Vast, a pioneer in space habitation technologies, announced today their plans to launch the world’s first commercial space station, called Haven-1. Scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to low-Earth orbit no earlier than August 2025, Haven-1 will initially act as an independent crewed space station prior to being connected as a module to a larger Vast space station currently in development. The mission will be quickly followed by Vast-1, the first human spaceflight mission to Haven-1 on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The vehicle and its four-person crew will dock with Haven-1 for up to 30 days while orbiting Earth. Vast also secured an option with SpaceX for an additional human spaceflight mission to Haven-1.

Vast is apparently a new company,  Space.com refers to them as being founded two years ago, and they sure seem to be dreaming big.  The press release included that they aim to operate a "100-meter-long [330 feet] multi-module spinning artificial gravity space station launched by SpaceX's Starship transportation system."  They also list the possibility of tourist trips to Haven-1 - no price given, yet.  "If you have to ask..."  The press release include these highlights of the Haven-1 and Vast-1 missions. 

HAVEN-1 FEATURES:

• Compatible docking with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
• Extend the on-orbit duration of commercial Dragon spacecraft human spaceflight missions for up to 30 days for four astronauts
• Science, research, and in-space manufacturing opportunities - 1000 W of power, 24/7 communications, and up to 150 kg of pre-loaded cargo mass in Haven-1. Opportunities for lunar artificial gravity by spinning.
• Fully independent space station providing life support functions and consumables for the full mission’s duration.
• Privacy and control of your crew schedule
• Large window dome for viewing and photography
• Always-on internet via onboard Wi-Fi
• Room to stretch and rest

VAST-1 - OUR FIRST EXPEDITION TO HAVEN-1

• ‍‍Fly to Haven-1 in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by the Falcon 9 rocket
• For space agencies and private individuals
• Fly four crew members to Haven-1 for up to 30 days
• Be the first crew to visit the world’s first commercial space station
• Available per seat or as a full, four-person crew mission
• Advanced science, research, and in-space manufacturing opportunities

You'll note that the station's features say, "Opportunities for lunar artificial gravity by spinning."  This seems like an area just begging for some real experiments.  The effects of nearly zero gravity on the ISS have been well-documented and seem to be a real barrier to living and working in space.  It's hard to do a controlled experiment since we generally don't have identical people we can split between being in space and staying on the ground (with the exception of Mark Kelly and his twin brother Scott, both astronauts).  Without identical twins it's harder to say that the degradation that has been seen after a long period in space is from that and not just from being older.  

There have also been some not-as-well-documented reports that say spinning (centripetal force) is not going to be as helpful as generally thought.  Until now, the reason, the Soviet Mir space station and the ISS have not attempted to do rotation has been said to be the increases to the weight of the pieces that need to be lifted into space (to make those pieces stronger) and the general complexity of doing it.  

Still the one that jumps out at me is above that: "1000 W of power 24/7".  I have to assume that's per person simply because 1 kilowatt just isn't much power.  A typical suburban American house has around 20 kW.  I really shouldn't call that "typical" because houses vary so much in size, but that's a good estimate for small house. 

The company is selling up to four seats on Vast-1. (The ticket price has not been publicly released.) SpaceX will provide astronaut training, spacesuits and other such services for the mission, as it did for Ax-1, a private flight to the International Space Station (ISS) operated by Houston-based company Axiom Space in April 2022.

Ax-1, of course, was the first manned mission of Axiom Space to the ISS.  Axiom has been working toward a private space station for at least a couple of years so that makes them seem to be ahead of Vast.  Their current plans appear to be to launch several modules to the ISS in the next few years. This complex will then detach and become a free-flying outpost.  In addition, Sierra Space and Blue Origin appear to be working toward a private space station as well. 

The size of the Haven-1 habitat compared to the Falcon 9 fairing.  From the Vast press release.