The Czech Ministry of Transport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vast, a U.S.-based leader in space habitation technologies. The agreement, formalized during Czech Space Week, outlines a commitment to exploring collaborative efforts in human spaceflight projects. These could include private astronaut missions (PAM) to the International Space Station (ISS) before its planned retirement in 2030, as well as missions to Vast’s own Haven space stations. The partnership also aims to engage with the growing Czech space industry and its vibrant start-up ecosystem.
One notable aspect of the collaboration is the potential involvement of Aleš Svoboda, one of 12 reserve astronauts selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) in November 2022, who could become the second Czech astronaut. Svoboda has been a key figure in the Czech government’s initiatives to boost the country’s space industry and encourage youth to pursue STEM careers. His role was further highlighted by the launch of the Czech Journey to Space project in June 2024.
Max Haot, CEO of Vast, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “We’re excited to join forces with the Czech space mission and explore joint spaceflight opportunities to bring science, research, and technology from Czech industry to orbit. We also look forward to potentially flying Aleš Svoboda to the International Space Station or Haven-1 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.”
Czech Minister of Transport Martin Kupka also welcomed the collaboration, stating, “We’re excited to partner with Vast, who shares our vision and commitment to pioneering advancements that shape the future of space exploration. This Memorandum reflects our dedication to advancing the Czech space sector and ushering in a new era of innovation and technology leadership in the country.”
Andrew Feustel, Vast advisor and veteran NASA astronaut with over 20 years of experience, highlighted the importance of the MoU: “I’ve worked closely with the Czech space community for years and have long admired their innovation, commitment, and collaborative spirit. Vast is uniquely positioned to advance this mission by combining bold vision with technical expertise, and together, we can create a future in space that will inspire generations to come.”
In addition to this MoU, Vast had previously signed an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) in June 2024 to explore opportunities for European nations to access space via Vast’s space stations. Recently, Vast also unveiled the final design for Haven-1, its first habitable module, and plans for Haven-2, which aims to replace the ISS after its retirement in 2030, as part of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Destination program. NASA is expected to release further details on the next phase of the CLD initiative in 2025.
