- SpaceX partners with startup Vast to send more private crews to the International Space Station (ISS), pending NASA approval
- The partnership reflects the increasing role of private companies in space exploration
- Vast plans to launch Haven-1 in 2025 and Haven-2, a larger ISS replacement, shortly thereafter
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to launch additional private crew missions to the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with a California-based startup, Vast, as confirmed by the two companies on Thursday, December 19.
Pending NASA approval, the missions are part of Vast’s broader strategy to facilitate crewed and payload missions to the ISS.
The company also has plans to launch the first commercial space station, potentially as soon as next year.
"Enabling these missions is crucial for our strategy and will deepen our collaboration with NASA and space agencies worldwide," said Max Haot, CEO of Vast, in a statement. However, a specific timeline was not provided.
SpaceX has previously conducted three private missions to the ISS with Axiom Space, with a fourth mission currently in preparation.
In addition, SpaceX has teamed up with Polaris, a venture led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, to complete two orbital flights, one of which included the first-ever spacewalk by non-professional astronauts.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and COO, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Vast, saying, “I am excited to work with Vast as they create more opportunities and destinations for more people to travel among the stars.”
These missions target wealthy private individuals as well as sovereign governments. The last mission, with Axiom Space, featured astronauts from Italy, Sweden, and Turkey, with their seats sponsored by their respective governments.
Vast, founded in 2021, is already in talks with several governments, including the Czech Republic, about future missions.
The ISS is set to be decommissioned by 2030, and Vast is one of several companies vying to create the first commercial space station.
The company plans to launch Haven-1, a smaller space station, in 2025, followed by the larger Haven-2, which aims to replace the ISS entirely.
Vast’s long-term goal is to create artificial gravity habitats, enabling humans to live in space permanently.
Other companies vying to develop the first commercial space station include Axiom Space, Voyager Space in partnership with Airbus, and Blue Origin, working with Sierra Space.
Elon Musk’s net worth hit $447 billion
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Elon Musk’s net worth climbed to $447 billion, fuelled by the success of his numerous ventures, including electric vehicles, space exploration, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and tunnelling technologies.
Musk’s wealth increased by $62.8 billion in 2024 alone, according to Bloomberg, largely due to the increasing valuation of SpaceX, his privately held aerospace company, which was valued at $350 billion following a secondary share sale, even as Musk’s electric vehicle, Tesla, recorded gains on the stock market.