Insider Brief
- Vast has announced an agreement with SpaceX to launch up to two Dragon missions to the International Space Station.
- These missions aim to support Vast’s bid for NASA’s Private Astronaut Missions program.
- If selected, these would mark the fifth and sixth PAM missions awarded by NASA.
Vast, a company focused on space habitation technology, has announced an agreement with SpaceX to launch up to two Dragon missions to the International Space Station (ISS). These missions aim to support Vast’s bid for NASA’s Private Astronaut Missions (PAM) program. If selected, these would mark the fifth and sixth PAM missions awarded by NASA.
The missions will leverage SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, recognized for their human spaceflight capabilities. Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the potential for expanded access to space. “I am excited to work with Vast as they build more opportunities and destinations for more people to travel amongst the stars,” Shotwell said.
The collaboration aligns with Vast’s broader strategy to advance its commercial space station initiatives, including Haven-1, which is expected to launch in 2025. Haven-1 is positioned to become the first commercial station in orbit and will include high-speed internet support via SpaceX’s Starlink network. The missions to the ISS will serve as a stepping stone for Vast’s future plans, including its participation in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) Phase II program. This program aims to select a successor to the ISS, scheduled for retirement by 2030.
Max Haot, CEO of Vast, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership and the ISS missions. “Enabling payload and crewed missions to the ISS is a key part of Vast’s strategy, allowing us to further our collaboration with NASA and global space agencies. These missions strengthen our expertise in human spaceflight operations and position Vast as a leading contender to deliver the next-generation successor to the ISS,” Haot stated.
NASA’s PAM program, initiated in 2019, seeks to foster a commercial low-Earth orbit economy by enabling private and international astronaut missions. PAM missions offer valuable operational insights, including crew training, mission management, and safety protocols. This framework supports the development of commercial space destinations and addresses the increasing demand for human spaceflight missions as ISS operations wind down.
In addition to NASA, sovereign governments are also engaging with Vast. The Czech Republic signed a memorandum of understanding with Vast in November 2024, signaling growing international interest in PAM opportunities.
Through these missions, Vast aims to demonstrate its ability to manage and execute human spaceflight operations, building experience applicable to both Haven-1 and Haven-2.
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