US Startup Targets 2027 Launch of First Privately Run Space Station

RIYADH, Jan 28: American aerospace company VAST Space plans to deploy the world’s first commercially operated space station by 2027, marking a major milestone in the shift from government-led to private space infrastructure.

Speaking at the Space Debris Conference 2026 in Riyadh, VAST Space Chief Executive Officer Max Haot said the planned station, known as Haven-1, would serve as the initial phase of a broader strategy to establish a long-term commercial presence in low Earth orbit.

Haot said the project aligns with global preparations for the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS), which is expected to end operations in 2030 after more than three decades in orbit. The ISS was first launched in 1998 through a partnership involving the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Designed to host four astronauts on short-duration missions, Haven-1 will support scientific research, technology testing, and commercial activities in a microgravity environment. The station is also intended to accommodate private-sector users and international partners.

According to Haot, safety and sustainability are central to the station’s design. Protective systems against space debris are being incorporated, alongside controlled deorbiting mechanisms to ensure responsible end-of-life disposal.

VAST Space expects to generate revenue through four crewed missions between 2027 and 2030, supported by scientific experiments, commercial payloads, and strategic partnerships.

Haot said the company remains on track following extensive development and testing planned throughout 2025, expressing confidence that Haven-1 will play a key role in the next era of human spaceflight.