Artist's illustration of a satellite in orbit, with earth in the background
(Image credit: Vast)
Vast isn't just about private space stations anymore.The California startup, which is developing the "Haven" series of private space stations, announced today (May 19) that it will build and sell satellites as well.Vast Satellite will leverage technology that the company has already demonstrated in space, on a test flight called Haven Demo.Haven Demo launched to low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this past November, charged with verifying the performance of systems that will be key to the Haven orbital outposts — propulsion, power and avionics, for example. Everything went well, according to Vast, and the demonstrator performed a controlled deorbit into Earth's atmosphere in February.Haven Demo turned out to be a pathfinder for Vast Satellite as well, because Vast builds its core systems in house and will use them for the newly announced spacecraft buses, too."We believe Vast is uniquely positioned to compete in the high-power satellite market through the combination of our world-class engineering team, large-scale manufacturing capabilities and the on-orbit success of Haven Demo," Vast CEO Max Haot said in the same statement."Customers can benefit from our experience designing, building and operating flight-proven large-scale spacecraft while gaining access to highly capable, flexible spacecraft platforms backed by operational expertise," he added.And Vast already has a customer — a confidential one that has committed to buy four satellites, with an option to purchase 200 more, according to the statement.
