Preparations are underway for the development and deployment of the crewed private space station named Haven-1.
The California-based Vast business is driving the development of this orbital station, which aspires to transform the commercial space industry landscape.
With ambitious aims, Vast is committed to providing cutting-edge onboard features, including a spacious window dome offering panoramic views of space, onboard Wi-Fi for internet access, and a designated area for exercise and relaxation within Haven-1.
To enhance its communication capabilities, Vast has enlisted the expertise of Singapore-based communications company Addvalue to create a radio frequency communication system for the space station.
“We are excited for the flight heritage and communication capability that Addvalue brings to the table for our Haven-1 space station,” said David Caponio, Senior Vice President of Product and Business Development at Vast, which was founded in 2021.
Facilitating constant communication
Vast will employ Addvalue’s Inter-satellite Data Relay System (IDRS), which will be used to provide on-demand, real-time communication to the Haven-1 space station.
IDRS is powered by Inmarsat ELERA, a powerful and technologically sophisticated L-band satellite network.
It operates as a Wi-Fi network, linking the space station to Earth. This facilitates continuous communication between astronauts aboard the spacecraft and ground operators.
Reportedly, the IDRS terminal intended for installation on the space station resembles a steel box weighing only one kilogram.
This partnership seeks to achieve Vast’s objectives of providing “robust, redundant, and space-proven critical telemetry links for the Haven-1 space station.”
“It will also be the first time IDRS service will be adopted in a crewed space mission. IDRS now features more than a dozen clients offering a variety of space-based services in the LEO satellite industry and is truly gaining momentum as a de facto data communication standard for effective LEO satellite constellation management, mission tasking, and swift responses to space situational awareness,” said Francis Low, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Addvalue, in the press release.
Space station expected to launch in 2025
As the International Space Station (ISS) is set to retire in 2031, the need to create a next-generation space station becomes critical.
With the current schedule, Vast aims to launch its space station within the next two years, with a targeted timeframe no earlier than August 2025. Vast’s Haven-1 will be launched into low-Earth orbit (LEO) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
A successful launch would make Haven-1 the world’s first commercial space station in orbit.
The Haven-1 will advance space science, enable microgravity research, and provide opportunities for spaceflight. Vast plans to host four astronauts on board the space station.
The company mentioned in the earlier press release that the space station would include “science, research, and in-space manufacturing opportunities – 1000 W of power, 24/7 communications, and up to 150 kg of pre-loaded cargo mass in Haven-1.”
The company’s ambitious timeframe puts it ahead of other commercial space station projects, such as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space station, Orbital Reef, which is likely to launch in the second part of this decade.
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her professional experience encompasses both broadcast and digital media, enabling her to learn a variety of storytelling formats. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.
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