Vast Eyes Indian Rockets for Its Future Space Station
US firm Vast seeks to partner with India’s ISRO, exploring Gaganyaan rockets for crewed missions to its space station.
Vast’s Bold Bid: Teaming Up with India for a New Space Age
As the International Space Station nears retirement, a new chapter in space exploration is unfolding—with India poised to play a pivotal role.
In a world where international alliances often shape the trajectory of innovation, US-based space company Vast is charting an ambitious course into low-Earth orbit—and India may become an unexpected but crucial partner. With plans to launch the world’s first commercial space station by 2026, Vast is exploring ways to use India’s Gaganyaan rockets to ferry astronauts to its orbital facility, potentially rewriting the rules of global space cooperation.
A Commercial Dream Takes Flight: Inside Vast’s Vision
Vast, headquartered in California, aims to debut Haven-1, a compact yet fully functional single-module space station, via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in May 2026. CEO Max Haot confirmed the project remains on schedule, with early tests planned before crewed missions begin as soon as July 2026.
Designed to accommodate four astronauts for two-week missions, Haven-1 spans 45 cubic meters and includes sleeping quarters, science lockers, and a communal space. It’s a pioneering step in commercial space habitation—fueled by the belief that private industry can sustain humanity’s continued presence beyond Earth.
And yet, Haot is looking far beyond California’s aerospace corridors.
India Enters the Conversation: Gaganyaan’s Potential Role
While Vast’s initial reliance is on SpaceX, the company is eyeing India’s Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3)—the rocket designed for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, India’s first crewed spaceflight set for early 2027. This powerful rocket, already proven in missions like the launch of OneWeb satellites, could emerge as a cost-effective, reliable alternative for future crew transport.
“We’re very interested in seeing whether Gaganyaan can be part of our launch ecosystem,” Haot told reporters during the Global Space Exploration Conference. “It’s about building resilient, multinational pathways to space.”
His comments reflect a strategic shift in how space companies view emerging space powers like India—not just as collaborators, but as critical infrastructure providers in an evolving space economy.
The Road to Haven-2 and a Deeper Alliance
Vast isn’t stopping with Haven-1. The company has mapped out plans for Haven-2, a significantly larger and more capable station scheduled to launch in 2028. The long-term vision? A modular, privately-owned orbital platform that complements or even replaces the aging International Space Station (ISS), which is expected to be decommissioned by 2031.
In this context, collaboration with India could go well beyond launches. Haot envisions shared missions, scientific payloads, and possibly a mutual exchange of access between ISRO’s future space station and Vast’s facilities.
“Space is one of the most collaborative frontiers we have,” he noted. “We’re open to ISRO using our platform—and perhaps gaining access to theirs in return. It’s a win-win.”
Strategic Timing Amid Shifting Global Space Politics
Haot was candid about the geopolitical backdrop influencing such partnerships. While China and Russia possess human spaceflight capabilities, current US political dynamics make collaboration with those nations difficult. That leaves India in a unique position—one of the few politically aligned nations with both technological maturity and an active human spaceflight program.
This, according to Haot, creates a “rare opportunity” for US-India space cooperation to flourish at a time when reliable allies in human spaceflight are few.
NASA’s Quiet Role in Vast’s Journey
While NASA isn’t directly funding Vast’s mission, the agency entered into a five-year Space Act Agreement in 2023 to support the development of the company’s space modules. This agreement enables technical guidance and aligns Vast’s vision with NASA’s broader goals of sustainable space infrastructure.
It’s part of a broader trend—where public agencies help incubate private ventures that can take over the operational demands of low-Earth orbit once the ISS sunsets.
Conclusion: A New Frontier Forged by Global Partnerships
As private space ambitions soar, collaboration, not competition, may define the next space age. Vast’s interest in India’s Gaganyaan mission isn’t just a logistical choice—it’s a signal that the future of space lies in shared innovation and global trust.
If the partnership matures, it could mark the beginning of an era where the United States and India stand side-by-side—not just on Earth, but in the stars above. And in that partnership, the dream of a truly accessible, international space presence becomes far more than science fiction—it becomes a shared mission.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and statements by company representatives. The final outcomes of proposed collaborations between Vast and ISRO may evolve based on regulatory, technical, and geopolitical developments
source : The Economic Times