Private Space Station Haven-1 Nears 2027 Launch

The race to build humanity's next home in orbit just hit a major milestone.

Space startup Vast announced last week it has finished building the primary structure of Haven-1, a private space station that could launch in early 2027. The news comes as NASA prepares to retire the International Space Station in 2030 after three decades of groundbreaking research.

Haven-1 represents a smart pivot in space station design. Rather than attempting to build a massive replacement right away, Vast is starting small with an interim station that will pave the way for larger outposts in the future.

The company first revealed stunning concept images in October 2024 showing plush beds, enormous domed windows, and sleek minimalist interiors. CEO Max Haot says the team has now moved into "clean room integration" and will begin full testing with NASA this fall.

The capsule is designed to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and dock with a Crew Dragon spacecraft. Its first mission will be a crucial test: can it maintain pressure and stay stable in orbit before welcoming human visitors?

That initial check could take anywhere from two weeks to three years, but Vast has already contracted two missions with SpaceX. The company remains flexible as it awaits NASA's final requirements for the Commercial Space Stations program.

Vast isn't alone in this new frontier. Voyager Technologies is developing its Starlab station, while Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin explores plans for Orbital Reef. Axiom Space aims to launch what it calls the world's first commercial space station by 2028.

The Ripple Effect spreads far beyond corporate competition. Multiple space stations could mean more research opportunities, lower costs through competition, and greater resilience if technical problems ground one facility. Lawmakers are already urging NASA to accelerate replacement plans, recognizing that having American-built options ready before 2030 serves national interests.

Haot believes NASA's current budget can reasonably support two winners in the program, though three would be ideal. That approach ensures backup options while fostering innovation through healthy competition.

The transformation from government-only space stations to a thriving commercial marketplace represents a fundamental shift in how humanity explores beyond Earth. What once required the resources of entire nations is becoming accessible to private enterprise, opening doors for scientists, researchers, and eventually everyday people to work and live in space.

As Haven-1 moves from construction to testing, it carries the hopes of a generation that grew up watching astronauts float through the ISS and dreamed of their own chance among the stars.