Traveling to space has always been a dream for many, but life aboard a space station is far from glamorous. Currently, astronauts living on the International Space Station (ISS) must adapt to a cramped, noisy environment that often has unpleasant odors, spending months confined to a functional structure that is anything but comfortable.
With the ISS nearing the end of its operational life, a space industry startup wants to change that reality. Vast, a U.S.-based company, has announced plans to launch in 2026 the Haven-1, which will be the first private space station in history. The project’s goal is to transform the experience of living in space, offering not only a laboratory for research but also an environment designed for crew comfort, with queen-size beds, a state-of-the-art gym, and a cozy design.
Just like the ISS, Haven-1 will be used for scientific experiments and for testing production methods in microgravity conditions. However, its concept is different: it prioritizes human well-being. The station will feature padded interiors, carefully planned spaces, and a style that moves away from the cold, purely functional environment that defines the ISS.
Smaller than the ISS but focused on comfort
Haven-1 will be much more compact than the ISS. It will have a diameter of 4.4 meters and 45 cubic meters of habitable volume — roughly the same interior space as a standard city bus. For comparison, the ISS has 388 cubic meters, almost eight times more.
Despite its smaller size, Vast’s project relies on creative solutions. Rest, for example, is one of the greatest challenges in a zero-gravity environment. On the ISS, some astronauts have tiny cabin-like spaces similar to lockers, while others sleep in sleeping bags strapped to the walls to keep from floating around.
In Haven-1, four exclusive, patent-pending sleep modules will be installed around the central corridor. Each will be roughly the size of a queen-size bed, allowing the crew to choose more natural positions, such as sleeping on their side or back. According to Vast, these beds are designed to provide even pressure throughout the body, ensuring a much more comfortable sleep compared to what astronauts currently experience on the ISS.
Common area and innovative design
The central area of the station will be dedicated primarily to social interaction. It will feature a foldable table that can be stowed away when not in use and a panoramic window measuring 1.2 meters in diameter, giving astronauts a wide view of Earth.
This space will be multifunctional: in addition to serving for meals and leisure, it will house workstations for scientific research. It will also be where the crew can exercise in the integrated gym — essential for maintaining health in a low-gravity environment.
For workouts, astronauts will have access to an advanced system of resistance bands attached to the walls. This equipment will allow for both linear and rotational exercises, helping preserve muscle and bone health during missions.
One striking detail of the Haven-1 design is the use of wooden panels on the walls of the common area — something unusual in space stations, which typically prioritize purely technical materials. The idea is to create a more pleasant, less impersonal atmosphere, bringing the feeling of “home” to space.
Short missions and experimental technology
Despite its focus on comfort, Haven-1 is not designed for permanent occupancy. It will accommodate up to four astronauts at a time, with missions lasting between 10 and 30 days.
When not in use by human crews, the station will serve as a platform for testing artificial gravity systems, an important step toward future projects aimed at creating space habitats where people can live for extended periods.
Because of the relatively short duration of stays, the amount of research conducted during each mission will be smaller than on the ISS, where astronauts typically spend several months. However, this faster turnaround will allow Vast to move forward more quickly, potentially becoming the first private company to place a space station into orbit.
Billion-dollar investment and next steps
Although the total cost of the project has not been disclosed, Vast has stated that it plans to invest around $1 billion by the time Haven-1 launches. Max Haot, the company’s CEO, highlighted that the project is already in the execution phase:
“We are building the most innovative space station in the universe.”
Before sending Haven-1 into space, the company will take an intermediate step later this year: launching Haven Demo, a satellite designed to test the station’s essential systems, such as propulsion, onboard computers, and navigation software.
The future of Haven-1 and beyond
Haven-1 is considered a minimally viable station — a smaller-scale structure designed to be deployed quickly and serve as the foundation for more advanced versions. Vast’s next major project already has a name: Haven-2.
This new station will have 500 cubic meters of internal volume and will be able to house up to 12 astronauts for longer stays, bringing it closer in scale to the current ISS but with a far more modern concept.
Additionally, Vast announced a partnership with renowned Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, which will serve as Haven-1’s official timekeeper, symbolizing a union between space technology and luxury design.
With its launch planned for 2026, Haven-1 promises not only to be a milestone in space exploration but also to pave the way for a new era in which living in orbit will mean more than just surviving — it will mean living with comfort, style, and innovation, bringing the dream of living beyond Earth closer to becoming a reality.
