Commercial space station developer Vast Space has secured a deal with SpaceX to fly two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station, pending NASA approval. The agreement allows Vast to utilize Crew Dragon spacecraft for short-duration missions to the ISS.
The partnership strengthens Vast’s collaboration with NASA and global space agencies, enabling payload and crewed missions to the station. Max Haot, chief executive of Vast, stated that these missions position his company as a leading contender to deliver the next-generation successor to the ISS.
Vast’s agreement comes after it announced its intent to bid for future private astronaut missions in February. The company faces competition from Axiom Space, which has already flown three PAM opportunities on Crew Dragon spacecraft. Axiom plans to install a power and payload module on the ISS, followed by a docking with a habitat module.
Vast also secures an earlier contract with SpaceX for the launch of its Haven-1 module, as well as at least one Crew Dragon mission to it. The company aims to test technologies and gain experience for its larger Haven-2 space station proposal, which is in discussions with government agencies.
One international partner, the Czech Republic, has already signed an agreement with Vast to examine potential flight opportunities for Czech astronauts on Vast missions. The deal is contingent on NASA approval, as the agency awards private astronaut missions to date have all been secured by Axiom Space.
Source: https://spacenews.com/vast-signs-agreement-with-spacex-for-private-astronaut-missions-to-the-iss