Chief Executive Officer of VAST Space Max Haot announced on Tuesday the company’s plan to launch the first commercial space station for astronauts, Haven-1, in the first quarter of 2027.
He made the announcement at the Space Debris Conference 2026 in Riyadh. The announcement reflects the rapid pace of innovation in commercial space infrastructure and supports a sustainable human presence in low Earth orbit.
Haot explained that Haven-1 represents the first phase of a long-term vision to develop commercial space stations, in line with the global transition toward commercial operating models as the International Space Station approaches the end of its operational life later this decade.
The station is designed to host a crew of four astronauts on short-duration missions, while supporting scientific research, technology demonstrations, and commercial applications in a microgravity environment, he revealed.
The station’s design places strong emphasis on safety and space sustainability, including the integration of space-debris protection systems, as well as dedicated systems for safe deorbiting at the end of its operational life, helping to mitigate risks associated with space debris, he added.
Haot said the company aims to achieve operational revenues through four crewed missions, supported by scientific and commercial payloads and strategic partnerships, during the period from 2027 to 2030.
The project has made significant progress following the success of the Haven Demo mission, an experimental mission launched by the company in 2025 to test key technologies and systems in orbit, marking the project’s transition from development to operational validation, he stressed.
Tuesday's announcement underscores the growing role of the commercial sector in building safe and sustainable space infrastructure and supporting international efforts to ensure the responsible use of low Earth orbit in the coming phase.
