SpaceX plans to launch this futuristic-designed space station.
A new environment in Earth's orbit.
In 2030, NASA plans to deactivate the aging International Space Station and sink it into the ocean. For the future, the space agency is relying on the ability of commercial companies to develop and operate new habitats in low Earth orbit. One of these projects is Haven-1, a capsule designed by the space technology company Vast, based in Southern California. The company has unveiled the final designs for this capsule, which SpaceX plans to launch with its Falcon 9 rocket in 2025.
The program features a solid launch platform with SpaceX, which will provide transportation for the occupants, and has been driven by a wealthy founder. However, achieving the construction and launch of the capsule with life support systems by the second half of 2025 is an ambitious task. Vast has brought on board retired NASA astronaut Andrew J. Feustel, who will advise on the design of the capsule. Feustel, who has completed three space missions, emphasized that they are learning from those experiences to improve how people can live and work in a space station.
What distinguishes Haven-1 from the International Space Station is its minimalist and orderly design. Unlike the ISS, which is a cramped and complicated laboratory, Haven-1 features a cleaner interior, with equipment stored behind simple panels. Additionally, the capsule includes fire-resistant maple wood paneling, adding a touch of warmth to a space that has traditionally been sterile.
Another aspect that favors the launch potential of Haven-1 is its relatively small size, contrasting sharply with the enormous International Space Station, considered the largest human-made object in low Earth orbit. The ISS required 42 flights to deliver its major components, occupying a volume larger than a six-bedroom house.
Vast has ambitions that go beyond Haven-1. If this capsule is successful and can accommodate a crew of four people, the company plans to develop and launch a larger module in 2028. By the 2030s, its goal is to build "Artificial Gravity Stations" capable of housing crews of eight people. However, these long-term plans depend on funding from clients with sufficient resources, such as space agencies needing a place to conduct research in low Earth orbit.
Meanwhile, NASA is focused on its own plans for the coming decades, which include establishing a permanent lunar presence to extract water from cold craters and perhaps building a fuel depot for other missions to Mars or resource-rich asteroids.
