US-based space habitation technology company Vast has unveiled the proposed successor to the International Space Station. Called Haven-2, it is the next step in the company’s vision to pioneer a path to long-term living and thriving in space.
With the planned retirement of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030, NASA is expected to announce the phase 2 winner(s) of its Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) program in mid-2026.
In response, Vast has developed Haven-2, designed to offer the most compelling solution to ensure continued US and international partner presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
“Our focus this decade is to win the NASA Commercial LEO Destination contract and build the successor to the International Space Station,” said Vast CEO Max Haot. “To achieve this, we will first demonstrate our capability by building and operating the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1, which is set to launch in 2025.”
If selected in 2026, Vast plans to have the first module of Haven-2, an evolved and NASA-certified version of Haven-1, fully operational in orbit by 2028. This near-term timeline is made possible by leveraging Vast’s significant private investment in the design, build, launch, and operation of Haven-1. The first Haven-2 Module will be 5 metres longer than Haven-1, offering nearly twice the livable volume of its predecessor while utilising all the same proven systems.
After deploying the first Haven-2 module, Vast plans to build and launch three additional modules over two years. These modules will adhere to the same efficient and cost-effective design template, further expanding the station’s usable volume, improving available facilities, and efficiently delivering additional critical life support systems and consumables.
With each successive Haven-2 module delivery, Vast will introduce more advanced and efficient life support technologies. Each subsequent module will feature expanded payload facilities while maintaining the same fundamental module design and heritage.
Andrew Feustel, a Vast advisor and veteran NASA astronaut with over 23 years of experience and three missions to the ISS, provided input into the features of the station design, noting that the potential for international collaboration is continued into the station’s architecture.
“Haven-2 is being designed with compatibility in mind, ensuring that international partners can integrate seamlessly into this next-generation platform,” he said. “This vision of global cooperation in space will create opportunities for scientific and technological advancements, benefiting new and current sovereign partners as well as industries around the world.”
Haven-2 features the Haven-2 Lab, which offers state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to support a wide range of microgravity research and in-space manufacturing. With more volume and power capacity than its predecessor, Haven-1, the Haven-2 Lab accommodates larger payloads and laboratory equipment, provides extensive integration options for experiments and specialised equipment, and increases operational flexibility while ensuring ample power and thermal control for high-demand projects.
Additionally, the Haven-2 Lab meets all of NASA’s Basic Laboratory Capabilities for the CLD program, aligning with the highest standards for orbital research facility readiness.
To foster international collaboration, the Haven-2 Lab also offers the option to dedicate an entire module or a specific laboratory facility to international partners, creating opportunities for global participation in microgravity research.
Between 2030 and 2032, Vast will add a larger seven metre diameter core module and four more Haven-2 modules, fully realising the next-generation commercial space station capable of meeting the needs of international partners, NASA, commercial researchers, manufacturers, and private astronauts.
Key features of the completed station include an unprecedented 3.8 metre diameter cupola window, external payload hosting capabilities, a robotic arm, visiting vehicle berthing capabilities, external payload airlock, and an extravehicular activity airlock to support customers’ needs. Each module will also feature two Haven-1-like 1.1 metre dome windows, totalling 16 windows by 2032.
Vast’s design is projected to surpass all other proposed on-orbit space stations in terms of volume, functionality, and operational efficiency. With unparalleled capabilities, Vast says Haven-2 will be the benchmark for next-generation space stations, ensuring that the US and its international partners continue to lead and foster the LEO economy.
