SpaceX plans to send private crews to the International Space Station (ISS) in partnership with a Californian start-up, the two companies announced this Thursday, December 19.
These missions constitute “a key element of Vast’s strategy, which will allow us to strengthen our collaboration with NASA and global space agencies,” said the CEO of the Californian start-up, Max Haot, in a statement, who did not make any statements. . schedule of these missions.
“Creating homes with artificial gravity”
SpaceX has already flown three private missions to the ISS with Axiom Space and is preparing for a fourth. Elon Musk’s company also collaborated with American billionaire Jared Isaacman within the framework of the Polaris program, which made history in September with the first space walk carried out by non-professional astronauts.
Jared Isaacman was chosen by Donald Trump to become the next director of NASA, a new example of the expansion of public-private partnerships in the space sector.
Vast also revealed that he was in active talks with several governments, including that of the Czech Republic, for future missions.
With the ISS expected to be decommissioned in 2030, Vast is one of several companies racing to build and launch the world’s first private space station.
Founded in 2021, the Californian company plans to launch a first station, Haven-1, in 2025, followed by Haven-2, a larger station designed to replace the ISS.
“Vast’s long-term ambition is to create artificial gravity homes that allow humans to live in space,” according to the company.
Other competitors include Axiom Space, Voyager Space, which works with Airbus, and Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin, in collaboration with Sierra Space.
Source: BFM TV
