Tag: Commercial Space Stations
-
Commerce Dept Launches Space Commerce Certification Push
Does the U.S. Finally Have a Path to Authorize Novel Space Activities? The Department of Commerce is moving forward without Congress. On July 23, 2026, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Office of Space Commerce (OSC) Director Taylor Jordan announced that OSC will publish a "call for interest" in the Federal Register within coming weeks,…
-
Vast Space Targets French Market with Two Crewed Station Missions
How is Vast Space expanding its commercial station services into Europe? Vast has announced its first major European expansion, committing to two dedicated crewed missions carrying French astronauts to its Haven-1 commercial space station. The Long Beach-based startup plans to launch these missions following Haven-1’s operational debut in 2025, positioning itself as a key player…
-
Vast Expands Into Satellite Bus Market With High-Power Spacecraft Platform
Vast said it will enter the satellite bus market with a new high-power spacecraft platform aimed at commercial, Earth observation and national security missions. The company announced plans to offer a 15-kilowatt-class satellite bus designed for high-volume and lower-cost deployment across a range of orbital applications. Vast also said customers will have the option to…
-
Axiom Space Establishes Japan Subsidiary for Asia-Pacific Expansion
Why is Axiom Space launching a subsidiary in Japan? Axiom Space is establishing a Japanese subsidiary to capitalize on Japan’s $4.2 billion annual space budget and accelerating commercial LEO ambitions. The Houston-based commercial space station developer sees Japan as a critical gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, where government and enterprise demand for orbital infrastructure is…
-
Vast Debuts Flight Suit and Large Docking Adapter for Haven-1
What new crew systems has Vast revealed for Haven-1? Vast today unveiled two critical systems for its Haven-1 commercial space station: a custom astronaut flight suit and a 1.5-meter Large Docking Adapter that significantly expands payload capacity beyond current ISS capabilities. The Long Beach-based startup’s flight suit features a sleek black and white design optimized…
-
No one is happy with NASA’s new idea for private space stations
Most elements of a major NASA event this week that laid out spaceflight plans for the coming decade were well received: a Moon base, a focus on less talk and more action, and working with industry to streamline regulations so increased innovation can propel the United States further into space. However, one aspect of this…
-
Vast Delays Haven-1 Commercial Space Station Launch to 2027
Vast has delayed the launch of its first commercial space station, Haven-1, until at least the first quarter of 2027, pushing back an earlier target of 2026, the company said on Tuesday. The single-module station is designed to host up to four commercial astronauts for missions lasting as long as two weeks. Astronaut transport and…
-
NASA is working on a plan to replace its space station, but time is running out
The next year is crucial for the future of NASA and its plans to extend human activity in low-Earth orbit. For the first time in decades, the US space agency faces the not-too-distant prospect of failing to have at least one crew member spinning around the planet. Over the next several months, NASA will finalize…
-
Starlab—with half the volume of the ISS—will fit inside Starship’s payload bay
The Starlab commercial space station will launch on SpaceX’s Starship rocket, officials said this week. Starlab is a joint venture between the US-based Voyager Space and the European-based multinational aerospace corporation Airbus. The venture is building a large station with a habitable volume equivalent to half the pressurized volume of the International Space Station and…
-
Northrop Grumman leaves behind solo commercial space station venture, partners with Nanoracks on ‘Starlab’
A rendering of the Nanoracks/Voyager Space commercial space station orbiting the Earth. Image: Nanoracks About a year and a half after signing a Space Act Agreement with NASA to develop a commercial space station, Northrop Grumman formally withdrew from its solo plans in order to partner with Nanoracks, a subsidiary of Voyager Space. Under this…