US firm unveils next-gen Haven-2 space station; potential ISS replacement

Vast, a US-based space habitation tech company, has unveiled Haven-2, which could be the successor to the International Space Station (ISS).

The company showcased the design of Haven-2 during the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). This next-gen orbital station will offer a spacious and comfortable environment for astronauts, with plenty of room for research, recreation, and even personal hobbies.

The ISS is scheduled to be retired by 2030. In response, NASA has initiated the Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) program to develop a successor. And Haven-2 is a potential candidate for the CLD contract. NASA is expected to announce Phase 2 winners in mid-2026.

“Our focus this decade is to win the NASA Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) contract and build the successor to the International Space Station,” said Max Haot, Vast CEO. “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.”

Haven-1 serves as a precursor to the larger Haven-2 project.

Larger modules

Haven-2’s architecture and tech systems are based largely on Haven-1.

Haven-1 is intended to demonstrate Vast’s capabilities in building and operating a commercial space station. Haven-1 — a single-module station — is set to launch in the latter part of 2025.

Vast aims to launch the first, single module of Haven-2 by 2028 if they win the NASA CLD contract in 2026. The launch is likely to take place aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy.

The first module of Haven-2 will be 16 feet (five meters) longer than Haven-1.

Moreover, it will have almost twice as much living space. Vast plans to expand Haven-2 by adding a larger central module with a diameter of 22 feet (seven meters) and four additional Haven-2 modules between 2030 and 2032. Once complete, the entire station will appear in the shape of X.

The completed Haven-2 station will offer a unique 3.8-meter diameter cupola window, allowing for breathtaking views of Earth. It will also have the ability to host external payloads, a robotic arm for moving objects in space, docking ports for visiting spacecraft, and airlocks for moving payloads and astronauts in and out of the station.

Advanced microgravity research

Haven-2’s orbital lab is bigger and has more power than Haven-1.

It will be equipped with the Haven-2 Lab, a modern laboratory for various microgravity research and in-space manufacturing projects.

Interestingly, it is capable of accommodating larger payloads and laboratory equipment.

The lab can be configured and used in different ways to suit various research projects. Moreover, it can maintain a stable temperature environment, which is crucial for many scientific experiments.

As per Vast’s press release, t he Haven-2 Lab fully complies with NASA’s basic laboratory requirements for the CLD program. It also meets the “highest standards” for orbital research facilities.

Haven-2 is designed with international collaboration in mind. It offers dedicated modules or labs for international partners, fostering global microgravity research.

“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,” said Andrew Feustel, a Vast advisor and veteran NASA astronaut, in the press release.