NASA has selected Vast for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with launch targeted no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida.
The mission will mark Vast’s first flight to the ISS and is part of NASA’s ongoing effort to expand commercial activity in low Earth orbit ahead of the station’s eventual retirement. The flight is expected to last up to 14 days, although a specific launch date will depend on ISS traffic and operational scheduling.
Under the agreement, Vast will propose four crew members for review and approval by NASA and its international partners. Once confirmed, the crew will undergo training with NASA, partner agencies and SpaceX, which has been contracted as the launch and return provider.
NASA will provide mission services including crew consumables, cargo delivery, storage and other in-orbit resources. In return, the agency will purchase the capability to return scientific samples requiring cold storage during transit back to Earth.
The selection follows proposals submitted in response to NASA’s March 2025 research announcement. Private astronaut missions form part of the agency’s broader strategy to transition low Earth orbit activities toward commercial providers while maintaining research access to the ISS.
NASA officials said such missions are intended to stimulate commercial participation, support research in microgravity and help develop capabilities that may underpin future commercial space stations. The agency is working toward a long-term shift from direct ISS operations to a model in which commercial platforms host government and private research.
Vast CEO Max Haot said the mission would support science-led commercial crewed operations and contribute to the transition toward privately operated space stations.
The ISS continues to serve as a testbed for scientific research and technology development in microgravity, while NASA advances its Artemis program focused on lunar exploration and longer-term missions beyond Earth orbit.
