The deal marks Vast’s first mission to the orbiting laboratory and highlights NASA’s continued push to grow a commercial space economy in low-Earth orbit by opening the space station to private industry.
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said private astronaut missions were about more than simply getting people into orbit.
“Private missions create opportunities for new ideas, companies and capabilities that strengthen American leadership in low-Earth orbit and help pave the way for what comes next,” he said. “We’re proud to welcome Vast to our growing group of commercial partners.”
The mission is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the International Space Station, with the exact launch date to be determined by station traffic and broader mission planning.
Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s space station program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said hosting private missions was key to the future of orbital operations.
“By welcoming commercial astronaut missions, the station accelerates innovation, opens new commercial pathways and supports research that underpins a sustainable space economy,” she said.
Vast will nominate four crew members for approval by NASA and its international partners. Once cleared, the astronauts will undertake joint training with NASA, partner agencies and SpaceX, which Vast has contracted to provide launch and return services.
Vast chief executive Max Haot said the company was honoured to be selected.
“Making full use of the remaining life of the space station through science- and research-led commercial missions is essential to the transition towards commercially operated space stations and unlocking the full potential of the orbital economy,” he said.
Under the arrangement, Vast will purchase a range of mission services from NASA, including crew consumables, cargo delivery, storage and other on-orbit resources. NASA will, in turn, buy the capability to return temperature-sensitive scientific samples to Earth.
NASA selected Vast from proposals submitted in response to a research announcement released in March 2025.
Private missions to the space station, alongside government flights, continue to support scientific research and technology testing in microgravity. These efforts are seen as laying the groundwork for future exploration beyond low-Earth orbit, including lunar missions and, eventually, crewed journeys to Mars under NASA’s Artemis campaign.