Vast, a space habitation developer based in Long Beach, CA, has teamed up with SpaceX and will connect its Haven-1 space station to the Starlink satellite constellation. Space News reported that once launched, Starlink will provide broadband connectivity for Haven-1, with expected deployment in August 2025. Haven-1 is a planned space station in low Earth orbit that is currently in development by American aerospace company Vast.
According to Max Haot, chief executive of Vast, the commercial space station developer, will install four terminals on Haven-1. “It should give us full coverage,” he said, with speeds up to 1 Gbps to and from the station. As reported by Space News, the laser links will augment traditional radio-frequency communications with ground stations and through Inmarsat satellites.
Haot argued that the connectivity will give Vast a competitive advantage in recruiting, since crew members can “call family, do a livestream for outreach or watch a movie.” Haven-1 will be able to accommodate four-person crews for short-duration missions, with a total stay time of 40 days.
Space News reported that the agreement between Vast and SpaceX extends to future space stations Vast plans to develop.
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