Vast-1

Lore & Background

Vast-1 is a planned mission by American aerospace company Vast to its Haven-1 space station. The flight is scheduled to launch no earlier than Q1 2027 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket with a Crew Dragon capsule, both from SpaceX. The crew of four astronauts will be trained by SpaceX on the Crew Dragon through simulations and formations. Seats on the mission are sold to space agencies and private individuals involved in science and philanthropic projects at an unknown price. Arnaud Prost will serve as a flight test engineer, and John McFall could join him.

Reader's Guide

During the mission, the crew will conduct various experiments in science and in-space manufacturing, though as of June 2023 the specific experiments are unknown and may be internal or external. At some point, Haven-1's propulsion system will rotate the station to produce artificial gravity similar to that on the Moon. If successful, this would be the second time artificial gravity has been deliberately produced in a crewed spacecraft, after NASA's Gemini 11 in 1966. Vast's contract with SpaceX includes an option for a second crewed mission, Vast-2, scheduled no earlier than 2027. The mission represents a step in commercial space station operations and private astronaut missions.

Did You Know?

• Vast-1 is planned to launch no earlier than Q1 2027.
• The mission will use a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon vehicle, both from SpaceX.
• Arnaud Prost will serve as a flight test engineer; John McFall could also join.
• If artificial gravity is produced, it would be a first for a crewed spacecraft, as no prior mission has achieved this via station rotation.