If you ever wondered what a hotel in space would look like, you’re in luck. Though cute and compact, the Haven-1 may be the first-ever commercial space station to replace the big and bulky International Space Station (ISS) in the coming years, along with other commercially manufactured orbital habits, making space accessible to more people.

The ISS has been around since the 1990s and has been serving its purpose ever since. But NASA has decided to plunge the entire thing into the ocean in 2030, and is looking to commercial companies for suitable updated alternatives. One of these alternatives is the Haven-1, built by the California-based company Vast, and set to make its grand voyage into low-Earth orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as soon as 2025.

Image credit: Vast

The Haven-1 Commercial Space Station

The first thing you’ll probably notice about this commercial space station is its beautiful interior. The company has moved away from the standard necessity-driven interior design. In other words, it’s ditching the marshmallow tube wirehouse we’ve come to recognize from the ISS and veering toward a sleek, modern, human-centric design, capable of housing four crew members for up to 30 days.

Its purpose? Initially, it will be used as a standalone crewed space station, but eventually, the plan is to connect it as a module to a larger space station that Vast is currently working on. The company aims to carry out further scientific research on zero gravity and its effects on cardiovascular and bone health, and this station has been precisely engineered for that, while also providing a truly human-first experience for the crew members.

Image credit: Vast

With the help of Vast’s Chief Design Officer, Hillary Coe, and retired NASA astronaut, Andrew J. Feustel, the project is guided by Peter Russell-Clarke, a world-famous designer who was involved in creating some of Apple’s most iconic products. He said that the company’s goal with this project is to create “an environment that is both highly efficient and naturally comforting.” 

There’s no doubt that the beautiful design will create a calm and grounding space for everyone on board, making it easier to stay there, even for longer periods of time. Aside from its stunning interior design features, the capsule has a key new exterior element: it consists of a single unit that makes it easier to transport—unlike the ISS, which took 42 flights to deliver and assemble.

Partnership with SpaceX

SpaceX’s contribution to the project involves more than merely delivering Haven-1 to space. Shortly after this commercial space station enters into orbit, Vast aims to initiate the first human spaceflight mission to the station (more on this later), and a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is what will get the crew of four there. 

Once they dock, they’ll stay in the station for up to 30 days while orbiting Earth. But that’s not all. Vast has reportedly secured an option with SpaceX for at least one more human mission to Haven-1.

Image credit: Vast

Haven-1 Space Station Features

The space station comes packed with cool features, as you’d expect. For starters, it offers opportunities for in-space manufacturing, as well as research, and can accommodate up to 150 kg of pre-loaded cargo in addition to the crew of four.

It’s also fully independent, meaning it can provide life support and consumables for the entire duration of the mission. Another benefit of its design is that it offers the crew some private space to stretch and rest, as well as common gathering spaces. 

Image credit: Vast

The company also spoke about its incorporation of beautiful “fire-resistant maple wood veneer slats, bringing natural warmth into what has traditionally been a sterile [environment].” The capsule also features a large dome, which allows the crew to enjoy the breathtaking views and take photos—and yes, they can post those photos online using the onboard WiFi.

Vast-1: The First Expedition to Haven-1

Probably one of many, Vast-1 is the first mission to the station for private astronauts or others related to the industry. The seats are either available individually or as a four-person crew mission and can last up to 30 days. It’s a milestone in space travel because Vast-1 will transport the first crew to visit the world’s first commercial space station.

Image credit: Vast

Vast’s Future Plans

Vast has some pretty ambitious long-term goals and is making rapid progress toward them. Among them, is the plan to develop a 100-meter-long multi-module spinning artificial gravity space station, with Haven-1 being the first of the commercial space stations to host an experiment of this kind. So it’s clear that this project is only the beginning of what Vast has in store for the future.

Because Vast’s inaugural station combines efficiency and elements of luxury, it’s pretty clear that it’s not just intended for professional astronauts. In fact, the company is selling up to four crewed seats on its first mission to the station and expects anyone from space agencies to private philanthropists to hop on board. 

To help with the process, SpaceX will be providing crew training on both the Falcon 9 and the Dragon. So as far as the future goes, it seems that Vast is interested in expanding and speeding up the process of space exploration, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

More About Vast

Vast was founded in 2021 and has since been making progress toward its ultimate goal of making space travel more accessible and affordable. The company aims to assemble a team of world-class engineers to build the first artificial gravity crewed station that allows people to easily live and work in space without being negatively affected by zero gravity.

In the meantime, there’s so much more happening in space. NASA continues to explore, with plans to set up a permanent lunar presence and extract water preserved in icy craters, as well as potentially create a fuel depo to support future missions to Mars and resource-rich asteroids.

Featured image credit: Vast