Vast, the trailblazing company in space habitation technology, is poised to introduce a groundbreaking platform with the Haven-1 Lab. Scheduled for launch no earlier than the second half of 2025 aboard Haven-1, this lab will mark the world’s first commercial microgravity research, development, and manufacturing station.
Vast’s Haven-1 Lab is set to become a central hub for collaboration among companies, governments, and other organizations focused on science, research, and space-based manufacturing. “As the ISS approaches its retirement in 2030, the need for a new platform to advance microgravity research and innovation is clear,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “Haven-1 Lab will bridge the gap before the ISS’s retirement, ensuring that international and commercial scientific endeavors continue to thrive in low Earth orbit.”
The Haven-1 Lab will serve as the premier commercial platform in low Earth orbit for various microgravity applications, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, advanced material manufacturing, and biotechnology. The lab is equipped with 10 Middeck Locker Equivalent payload slots, each approximately the size of a microwave, capable of holding up to 30 kg (66 lbs) of equipment. Each slot provides 100 W of continuous power, an Ethernet data connection, and will be managed by the onboard astronaut crew and ground operators through Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency connectivity. Partners will also be able to return products and samples to Earth via a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
In conjunction with this announcement, Vast revealed its inaugural partners: Redwire and Yuri, both leaders in microgravity payload development. Redwire, a top player in space biotechnology and pharmaceutical development, brings over three decades of expertise. Their innovations include the BioFabrication Facility and the Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory – Bio-crystal Optimization Xperiments (PIL-BOX), which have demonstrated significant advances in drug development in space.
Mike Gold, Chief Growth Officer at Redwire, remarked, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Vast on the Haven-1 Lab. This partnership represents a new chapter in expanding our capabilities and continuing the legacy of the ISS into a new era of commercial platforms.”
Yuri, Vast’s other inaugural partner, is renowned for its pioneering work in biotech product development in microgravity. Their collaboration with Vast will enhance their payload opportunities and contribute to new scientific discoveries. Co-Founder and CEO Maria Birlem highlighted the importance of this partnership, noting, “Haven-1 provides an unprecedented opportunity to boost European utilization of low Earth orbit, simplifying access to microgravity and advancing commercial biotech research.”
In addition to these partnerships, Vast is actively seeking collaborations in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, edge computing, and machine learning. The company is also launching a unique payload end-user program, enabling individuals and companies of any size to conduct experiments and engage in collaborative growth in space.
For more information on becoming a payload partner or end-user, visit vastspace.com/haven-1-lab.
