Call for Research Proposals Issued by Vast
Expanding Access to Microgravity Research and STEM Engagements
Commercial orbital habitat developer Vast has released a call for ground-based and space-based research proposals aboard Haven-1 Lab, and during potential private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (subject to award by NASA).
“We need to build on the heritage of the ISS National Lab and help scientists and industry continue world-changing research.”
Meghan Everett, Vast
Haven-1 Lab is scheduled to be the world’s first crewed commercial microgravity research and manufacturing facility in space. Vast aims to enable innovative and technically excellent research on the world’s first commercial space station. The lab will be fully operational with highly capable facilities supporting automated and crew-assisted experiments.
In its early iteration, Haven-1 Lab is well-equipped for experiments in the areas of protein crystallization for pharmaceutical development, stem cell research, plant growth in space, human research including remote medical technologies and crew health, technology demonstrations, and food systems. Desired research is in the areas of advancing safe human exploration to the Moon and Mars, new discoveries in physical and biological sciences, and materials science and biotechnology breakthroughs that can benefit humans on Earth. Existing partners for Haven-1 Lab, and leaders in space systems, include Redwire, Yuri, Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS), Interstellar Lab, and Exobiosphere.
“The opportunity to expand access to microgravity research upon the world’s first commercial space station is historic,” said Meghan Everett, Vast Principal Scientist and former International Space Station (ISS) Program Deputy Chief Scientist. “We need to build on the heritage of the ISS National Lab and help scientists and industry continue world-changing research breakthroughs that are only possible in the novel environment of microgravity.”
In its lifetime, the International Space Station (ISS) has hosted over 3,000 experiments from more than 5,000 researchers representing over 100 countries so far, with more than 4,000 scientific journal publications based on space station science. Continuing the ISS legacy of space-based research is crucial to advancing discoveries that will benefit life on Earth and support deep space exploration. Everett will now develop a robust multi-disciplinary research portfolio for Vast to include providers and subject matter experts from NASA, international partners, academia, and the commercial industry. The portfolio will begin with experiments aligned with current Haven-1 Lab capabilities and grow with complexity as Vast continues to iterate on its facilities. Vast’s science strategy demonstrates its overarching business model of hardware-rich iteration toward permanent human presence, avoiding a gap between ISS and commercial platforms.
This call is open to early-career and established researchers, technologists, and engineers with or without previous experience conducting research in space from for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and Federal entities.