Haven-1 Primary Structure Passes Qualification Proof Test
Updated Launch Schedule Announced
Late last month, Vast Space began the test campaign for its Haven-1 primary structure qualification article. The latest testion follows completion of all on-test stand integration tasks, procedure checks, and rehearsals. This marks the first of many full-scale vehicle test campaigns for Vast.
"If all goes as planned, we will have designed, built, and launched the world’s first commercial space station in three years.”
Vast Space blog post
The test was initiated with a decay leak check at 0.2 barD, which passed successfully. That was followed by the proof test, pressurizing the vehicle to 1.8 barD (26 psig). As expected:
No visual changes were observed.
The total test duration was 5 hours, with the leak rate remaining within specification for 10 minutes.
All strain gauges stayed within acceptable ranges.
Following this, the vehicle was maintained at 3 psi (0.2 bar) for 48 hours without adding new nitrogen gas to measure the leak rate. The leak rate was indiscernible, exceeding our 1.2 standard cubic centimeters per minute requirement. This test procedure follows NASA-STD-5001, ensuring compliance with rigorous safety and performance standards.
Haven-1 successfully passed its primary structure qualification proof test on the first attempt—a critical milestone toward launch. This achievement demonstrates:
The full proof qualification of a space station pressure vessel
A space station structure designed, built, and tested entirely in-house by Vast
A record timeline—completed in just 15 months from zero aluminum work to a proof tested structure
This is just the beginning of Vast’s vehicle operations. Over the coming weeks, the full qualification test campaign well be conducted, which involves:
Applying simulated launch and on-orbit forces using hydraulic actuators
Conducting structural load tests under pressure
Vast will post updates on its social media and a full blog post once the campaign is complete. In the meantime, the core team remains focused on its critical path—building the Haven-1 flight primary structure.
According to an updated timeline posted on the Internet by Vast, the launch campaign will begin with pre-launch operations at the launch site in April 2026, with launch now planned for May 2026, and the first crewed mission to the Haven-1 space station in June of that year.
"This is an ambitious timeline, especially for a program of this scale within the crewed systems and space station industry," the company said in a blog post. "If all goes as planned, we will have designed, built, and launched the world’s first commercial space station in three years—a pace never before achieved in human spaceflight."