Vast has raised $500 million in new funding to accelerate development of its commercial space station program and advance its long-term vision of enabling humans to live and work in space.
The financing round included $300 million in Series A equity and $200 million in debt and was led by Balerion Space Ventures, with participation from IQT, Qatar Investment Authority, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., MUFG, Nikon, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital, and Earthrise Ventures.
Founded by entrepreneur Jed McCaleb and led by CEO Max Haot, the company is developing a roadmap that includes low-Earth orbit space stations, future habitats for the Moon and Mars, and crewed systems designed to expand the commercial space economy while supporting government and national security missions.
Vast’s Haven space station architecture aims to provide cost-effective access to microgravity research and in-space manufacturing. The company recently demonstrated key technologies through Haven Demo, an in-orbit testbed that successfully flew and deorbited after validating systems planned for the upcoming Haven-1 station, which is scheduled to launch in 2027.
As part of the financing, A.C. Charania, currently an advisor at Balerion and former Chief Technologist at NASA, will join Vast’s board.
Looking ahead, Vast aims to support continuous crewed operations in low-Earth orbit by 2030, including participation in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) Phase 2 program, which seeks commercial successors to the aging International Space Station.
With more than $1 billion invested to date, Vast is positioning its Haven station architecture as a potential next-generation commercial platform for government, research, and private astronaut missions in the post-ISS era.
Image Credits: Vast
