---
type: claim
domain: space-development
description: "Iterative three-station approach from Haven Demo through Haven-1 single module to Haven-2 multi-module ISS replacement, with closed-loop ECLSS experiments on every mission"
confidence: likely
source: "Astra, Vast company research via Bloomberg SpaceNews vastspace.com February 2026"
created: 2026-03-20
challenged_by: ["financial sustainability beyond McCaleb's personal commitment is unproven"]
---

# Vast is building the first commercial space station with Haven-1 launching 2027 funded by Jed McCaleb 1B personal commitment and targeting artificial gravity stations by the 2030s

Vast (Long Beach, CA) builds commercial space stations through an iterative three-station development strategy. Founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb (co-founder of Ripple and Stellar), who personally committed up to $1B. In-Q-Tel (CIA's strategic investment arm) invested in late 2025.

**Haven Demo** (launched November 2, 2025) — Demonstration satellite testing station technologies in orbit. Successfully completed initial operations.

**Haven-1** (expected Q1 2027) — World's first commercial space station. Single-module: 45m3 habitable volume, 80m3 pressurized, crew of 4 for ~2-week missions. Open-loop life support (CO2 cartridges, water consumables). 13,200W peak power, Starlink laser connectivity. Launching on Falcon 9.

**Haven-2** (first module 2028) — Multi-module architecture to succeed ISS. Continuous crew capability. Plans 5th-generation closed-loop ECLSS.

**Future (2030s)** — Artificial gravity station rotating end-over-end at 3.5 RPM for indefinite habitation without zero-gravity side effects.

The key development thread is closed-loop life support. Haven-1 uses simple open-loop consumables, but ECLSS experiments fly on every mission. Vast's iterative approach — real orbital data feeding each generation — is the most promising path to closing the life support loop. Biological systems payload partners on Haven-1 include Interstellar Lab (Eden 1.0 closed-loop plant growth chamber for bioregenerative life support) and Exobiosphere (orbital drug screening device).

Team has heavy SpaceX DNA — 7 alumni in leadership including Kris Young (COO, 14+ years SpaceX, led Crew Dragon engineering).

## Challenges

Financial sustainability beyond McCaleb's personal commitment is the key risk. Vast has the fastest timeline (Haven Demo already in orbit, Haven-1 targeted 2027) and the strongest single-funder commitment, but the business model for commercial station revenue is unproven at scale. Axiom has the strongest operational position (ISS-attached modules), Starlab has Airbus backing, Orbital Reef has NASA funding plus Blue Origin's infrastructure stack.

---

### Additional Evidence (extend)
*Source: [[2026-03-27-nasa-authorization-act-iss-overlap-mandate]] | Added: 2026-03-27*

Haven-1's 2027 launch timeline positions it as the most plausible candidate to meet the ISS overlap mandate's requirements for a fully operational commercial station with 180 days of concurrent crew operations by 2031-2032. The overlap mandate creates a government-guaranteed anchor tenant relationship during the transition year, significantly de-risking Haven-1's business model.


Relevant Notes:
- [[commercial space stations are the next infrastructure bet as ISS retirement creates a void that 4 companies are racing to fill by 2030]] — competitive landscape for Haven-1 and Haven-2
- the self-sustaining space operations threshold requires closing three interdependent loops simultaneously -- power water and manufacturing — Haven-2's closed-loop ECLSS addresses the water and air loops
- [[the space manufacturing killer app sequence is pharmaceuticals now ZBLAN fiber in 3-5 years and bioprinted organs in 15-25 years each catalyzing the next tier of orbital infrastructure]] — Haven-1 payloads advance both pharmaceutical and life support threads

Topics:
- space exploration and development
