In the bustling aerospace hubs of Long Beach, California, the future of private space exploration is taking shape—one module at a time. Vast, a bold upstart in the commercial space race, just scored a major win by enlisting retired NASA astronaut Megan McArthur as its newest astronaut adviser. The announcement dropped on January 23, 2026, mere days after the company's Haven-1 commercial space station entered its critical integration phase on January 20. It's a pivotal moment, blending veteran expertise with cutting-edge hardware, as Vast pushes toward a 2027 launch amid a shifting timeline.
Recruiting Star Power from the Stars
McArthur isn't just any hire—she's a spaceflight veteran with stories that could fill a mission log. Having retired from NASA in August 2025, she brings firsthand insights from the STS-125 mission in 2009, where she helped service the Hubble Space Telescope, and a grueling six-month stint on the International Space Station during Crew-2 in 2021. "I'm excited to bring that experience forward and support Vast's vision for the next era of human spaceflight," McArthur said in a company statement. "Vast has the team, focus, and ambition to lead the development of the next generation of space stations."
She's not alone in this cosmic brain trust. Vast has been on a hiring spree, pulling in NASA and JAXA alumni to fortify its operations. Andrew Feustel, a multi-mission ISS veteran, leads as chief astronaut, while Garrett Reisman and Kathy Lueders serve as advisers. Lueders, who once helmed NASA's human spaceflight program and later managed SpaceX's Starbase, joined on December 18, 2025. Adding an international flair, former JAXA astronaut Naoko Yamazaki stepped in as general manager of Vast Japan on December 11, 2025, fresh from her own STS-131 flight in 2010. This lineup isn't just impressive; it's a strategic assembly of minds who've logged thousands of hours in orbit, ready to refine Haven-1's systems from design to deployment.
Entering the Integration Crucible
The timing couldn't be more dramatic. As McArthur steps aboard, Haven-1—Vast's inaugural single-module space station—has shifted gears into integration at Vast's Long Beach facilities. This phase is no small feat: it's where structural components snap together, systems undergo rigorous testing, and the hardware edges closer to flight readiness. Company officials describe it as a hardware milestone, especially after nudging the launch target to 2027 due to unforeseen delays.
Building on momentum from the Haven Demo mission in November 2025, launched via the Bandwagon-4 rideshare, Vast proved its tech chops. The demo unfurled solar arrays, achieved power-positive status, and even beamed back stunning 4K footage of the operations. Bolstering credibility, Vast snagged AS9100D certification for aerospace quality and reliability, paving the way for robust hardware and potential partnerships.
Inside Haven-1: Specs and Capabilities
Picture a compact orbital outpost, sleek and efficient. Haven-1 stands 10.1 meters tall, boasting a habitable volume of 45 cubic meters and a pressurized space of 80 cubic meters. Tipping the scales at 14,600 kilograms, it generates a solid 13,200 watts of power—enough to sustain life and science in the void. Set for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, it'll orbit at about 425 kilometers with a 51.6-degree inclination, welcoming short-duration visits from up to four Crew Dragon spacecraft.
At its core, Haven-1 is designed for a crew of four, with a sharp focus on research through the Haven-1 Lab initiative. Microgravity experiments will thrive here, tying into broader collaborations like Vast's April 2025 agreement with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) for access to the ISS National Lab. The company even unveiled an immersive Haven-1 experience at that month's Space Symposium, letting attendees virtually step inside the module.
Forging Global Alliances
Vast isn't playing small. In a push for worldwide reach, the company inked memorandums of understanding with the Maldives Space Research Organization and the Colombian Space Agency, expanding its network of collaborators. The December 2025 launch of Vast Japan, under Yamazaki's leadership, underscores this global strategy—aligning with trends in international research and reusable launch tech.
Founded around 2021, Vast is a key player in NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program, vying with rivals like Axiom Space, Orbital Reef, and Starlab for dominance in post-ISS operations. With the International Space Station slated for deorbit around 2030, stations like Haven-1 promise to bridge the gap, hosting everything from cutting-edge research to space tourism.
Charting the Course Ahead
As integration hums along in Long Beach, Vast's blend of seasoned astronauts and innovative engineering signals a thrilling chapter in commercial space. Industry watchers are buzzing: the Haven Demo's success validated key technologies, and ongoing hunts for new Haven-1 Lab partners hint at untapped potential in microgravity science. Amid fierce competition, Vast's milestones—from certifications to global pacts—position it as a frontrunner in the race to redefine low Earth orbit. The stars, it seems, are aligning for a new era where private enterprise doesn't just reach space—it owns it.
