<p>Vast, a startup backed by cryptocurrency billionaire Jed McCaleb, is aiming to launch a school bus-sized space station to orbit by late 2025 with some help from partner SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket firm.</p>.<p>The cylindrical spacecraft dubbed Haven-1 is the latest platform planned as a replacement to the International Space Station, a two-decade-old orbital research laboratory run primarily by the US, Russia and the European Space Agency.</p>.<p>The ISS is expected to retire in 2030 and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wants commercial space stations to replace the ISS.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/spacex-wins-approval-to-add-fifth-us-rocket-launch-site-1212709.html" target="_blank">SpaceX wins approval to add fifth US rocket launch site</a></strong></p>.<p>The agency in 2021 awarded $415 million in development funds to four companies including Northrop Grumman and billionaire Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.</p>.<p>Vast wasn't among the awardees, but hopes to receive some NASA funding by 2028, the company's president, Max Haot, told Reuters on Monday.</p>.<p>NASA did not respond to an email seeking comment.</p>.<p>No private company has ever built and deployed a space station. The football field-sized ISS, built over multiple launches and outfitted over its lifetime with various components, cost the participating countries more than $100 billion combined.</p>.<p>Making the construction of a novel space station more ambitious is a current drought in private capital as investors seek less risky bets.</p>.<p>McCaleb, worth $2.4 billion according to Forbes, will back the spacecraft's development and has so far committed $300 million to the company.</p>.<p>The total cost for Haven-1's development "remains to be seen," McCaleb, also Vast's CEO, said in an interview.</p>.<p>"I think it'll take a bit more than that, but we'll see."</p>.<p><strong>Crew of 4</strong></p>.<p>Vast, founded in 2021, said it plans to launch a crew of four to Haven-1 for a 30-day research mission, shortly after it is deployed. Haven-1 will be launched from SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.</p>.<p>SpaceX will also train the astronauts, who will leave Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule that will dock autonomously to Haven-1.</p>.<p>A wholly commercial project is the future of low-Earth orbit, and Vast and SpaceX were taking a step toward making that a reality, Tom Ochinero, a senior SpaceX executive said in a statement.</p>.<p>Haven-1 is expected to last three years and support three more 30-day missions. Vast is in talks with potential astronauts for the initial mission, Haot said.</p>.<p>Government space agencies would be Vast's primary target customers. Other customers could include philanthropists, private research firms and companies looking to send only payloads - not humans - to the station for robotic research missions. </p>
<p>Vast, a startup backed by cryptocurrency billionaire Jed McCaleb, is aiming to launch a school bus-sized space station to orbit by late 2025 with some help from partner SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket firm.</p>.<p>The cylindrical spacecraft dubbed Haven-1 is the latest platform planned as a replacement to the International Space Station, a two-decade-old orbital research laboratory run primarily by the US, Russia and the European Space Agency.</p>.<p>The ISS is expected to retire in 2030 and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wants commercial space stations to replace the ISS.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/spacex-wins-approval-to-add-fifth-us-rocket-launch-site-1212709.html" target="_blank">SpaceX wins approval to add fifth US rocket launch site</a></strong></p>.<p>The agency in 2021 awarded $415 million in development funds to four companies including Northrop Grumman and billionaire Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.</p>.<p>Vast wasn't among the awardees, but hopes to receive some NASA funding by 2028, the company's president, Max Haot, told Reuters on Monday.</p>.<p>NASA did not respond to an email seeking comment.</p>.<p>No private company has ever built and deployed a space station. The football field-sized ISS, built over multiple launches and outfitted over its lifetime with various components, cost the participating countries more than $100 billion combined.</p>.<p>Making the construction of a novel space station more ambitious is a current drought in private capital as investors seek less risky bets.</p>.<p>McCaleb, worth $2.4 billion according to Forbes, will back the spacecraft's development and has so far committed $300 million to the company.</p>.<p>The total cost for Haven-1's development "remains to be seen," McCaleb, also Vast's CEO, said in an interview.</p>.<p>"I think it'll take a bit more than that, but we'll see."</p>.<p><strong>Crew of 4</strong></p>.<p>Vast, founded in 2021, said it plans to launch a crew of four to Haven-1 for a 30-day research mission, shortly after it is deployed. Haven-1 will be launched from SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.</p>.<p>SpaceX will also train the astronauts, who will leave Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule that will dock autonomously to Haven-1.</p>.<p>A wholly commercial project is the future of low-Earth orbit, and Vast and SpaceX were taking a step toward making that a reality, Tom Ochinero, a senior SpaceX executive said in a statement.</p>.<p>Haven-1 is expected to last three years and support three more 30-day missions. Vast is in talks with potential astronauts for the initial mission, Haot said.</p>.<p>Government space agencies would be Vast's primary target customers. Other customers could include philanthropists, private research firms and companies looking to send only payloads - not humans - to the station for robotic research missions. </p>