Czech Republic Secures ISS Mission Through Commercial Agreement with Vast
ESA Reserve Astronaut Aleš Svoboda Named Pilot; Mission Pending Multilateral Panel Approval
A commercial agreement between Vast and the European Space Agency, acting on behalf of the Czech Republic, will send a Czech astronaut to the International Space Station for the first time, pending approval by the five-partner Multilateral Crew Operations Panel.
“The Czech Republic has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing its role in the global space economy, and we look forward to working closely with ESA, NASA, and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade on this historic mission.”
Max Haot, Vast.
Under the agreement, ESA reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda is named as mission pilot, building on a memorandum of understanding Vast and the Czech Republic signed in 2024. The mission is planned for 2027, with SpaceX providing transportation aboard a Dragon spacecraft launched on a Falcon 9 rocket.
The Multilateral Crew Operations Panel, which includes representatives from NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, and the Canadian Space Agency, must reach consensus before the flight assignment is confirmed. No approval date has been announced.
Svoboda, one of 12 ESA astronaut reserve members selected in November 2022, is slated to serve alongside ESA Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, named Commander for the mission.
“This mission is an important milestone for the Czech Republic and a strategic investment into our future technological capabilities, science, industry, and education. Space technologies already influence many sectors with high added value, from telecommunications and cybersecurity to manufacturing. Through this mission, we want to strengthen the Czech Republic’s industrial and technological base, support the involvement of Czech companies and research institutions in top international projects, and inspire a new generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators,” said Karel Havlíček, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
The mission would mark the third time ESA has arranged commercial access to space for a member state. Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General, cited NASA’s role: “We thank NASA for its effort in facilitating this commercial activity. It supports the Czech Republic’s ambitions while reinforcing Europe’s broader objectives in exploration, innovation, and long-term capability development.”
“The Czech Republic has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing its role in the global space economy, and we look forward to working closely with ESA, NASA, and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade on this historic mission,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast.
The agreement is the latest in a series of national deals for Vast, which earlier this year signed a two-mission agreement with the French government covering an ISS flight and a crewed seat on Haven-1, the company’s commercial space station targeted for launch in 2027.