Tech
Startup Unveils Luxurious Final Design for Its Planned Commercial Space Station
Space startup Vast has shown off the final design of what it claims will be the “world’s first commercial space station.”
The structure dubbed Haven-1 is a sleek, cylindrical outpost designed to house “state-of-the-art facilities for scientific research” while “prioritizing the well-being and experience of its astronauts and its vision for making space accessible to all,” according to a press release.
Despite being an exciting glimpse of future space travel, Vast’s flashy images are just mockups. The company is hoping to launch its station via SpaceX Falcon 9″no earlier than August 2025.”
Considering the sheer level of complexity involved and the many startups before it that have had similar aims but never had anything to show, we should expect that date to change.
On the other hand, there’s already a reliable way to get there and back in the form of SpaceX’s tried-and-true Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Today, Vast unveiled the final design for Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, setting a new standard. Guided by visionary designer Peter Russell-Clarke and astronaut Andrew Feustel, we’re pushing the boundaries of life in space with human-first design led by… pic.twitter.com/xDdMzNFnuF
— VΛST (@vast) October 10, 2024
Notably, Vast was founded in 2021 by programmer Jed McCaleb, who also founded the Mt. Gox Bitcoin exchange that was shut down in 2014 and has been the subject of speculation and plenty of lawsuits ever since.
McCaleb’s new space station endeavor was created to develop the first-ever artificial-gravity space station — but Haven-1 isn’t quite as ambitious as that.
Images show a massive, 3.6-foot domed glass window that would provide passengers with a wide-angle view of the Earth below.
Up to four crew members would have ample space for their stuff thanks to each room featuring a “built-in storage compartment, vanity, and a custom amenities kit,” the website explains.
The station’s “soft and padded” interior surfaces would ensure crew members don’t get hurt if they bump their heads on the walls thanks to the near weightlessness of space.
Sleeping on board the station seems like it would be an equally luxurious experience.
“Vast’s patent-pending signature sleep system is roughly the size of a queen bed, provides a customized amount of equal pressure throughout the night, and accommodates side and back sleepers alike,” the company’s press release reads.
An image shows a woman cozying up beneath a massive duvet, a far cry from the depressing sleeping pods on board the International Space Station.
A common area would allow passengers to gather and enjoy “breathtaking views” of Earth, while the station’s integrated fitness center would provide them with an opportunity to get in a workout hundreds of miles above the surface.
Naturally, SpaceX is slated to provide Starlink internet connectivity to the space station.
It’s still unclear how much it will cost to stay on board the Haven-1, but considering a simple trip to the International Space Station on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft can cost around $55 million a seat, we’d wager it’ll be an experience reserved for the ultra-rich.
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