Vast has signed an agreement with The Exploration Company, which will offer cargo services to Vast’s second Haven station in 2028, the companies announced Tuesday.
The announcement closely follows an MOU between Vast and ESA that will give European astronauts access to its commercial stations. Taken together, the agreements solidify Vast’s position in the European space industry and give a peek at what Europe’s future crewed presence in space might entail.
What’s the deal?: The agreement between TEC and Vast opens the door for Europe to begin commercial and research-based missions in LEO.
TEC will provide one mission to Haven with its Nyx reusable space vehicle, carrying up to 4,000 kg. Nyx will also be able to down-mass 2,600 kg back to Earth.
“We are grateful for the trust Vast is placing in our Nyx cargo system. We are excited to support future Haven commercial space station operations as Vast fields a replacement to the International Space Station,” said Hélène Huby, CEO and founder of The Exploration Company.
Taking reservations: Despite delays affecting a test demonstration originally scheduled for this summer, TEC has recently signed a handful of deals with future space stations to provide cargo delivery services.
- In September, the company signed an agreement with Axiom Space to develop two-way cargo transport services for the Axiom station as early as 2027.
- In May, it won an ESA contract to develop cargo service to and from the ISS by 2028.
- Later that month, it signed a deal with Starlab for three cargo transport missions if TEC hits several technological milestones before future flights.
Closer to home: Despite the recent focus on Europe, Vast remains committed to its goal of commercializing space for the Western world. On Wednesday, the company cut the ribbon on a new office in Washington, DC, suggesting that while its long-term vision may be extraterrestrial, its short-term workload will be focused on both sides of the Atlantic.
