WASHINGTON (mtf.news) — France has chosen a California-based startup to fly two of its astronauts on private space missions in 2027 — a move that gives the company early international credibility as NASA prepares to shift away from the aging International Space Station.
--> DIG DEEPER, via mtf.news: ISS Retirement Sparks Commercial Space Race.
Under the agreement announced today by President Emmanuel Macron, veteran astronaut Thomas Pesquet will command a two-week private mission to the International Space Station in 2027, while ESA reserve astronaut Arnaud Prost will fly aboard Vast’s Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station.
Why This Deal Matters
The International Space Station is scheduled to retire around 2030. NASA does not plan to build a new government-owned replacement. Instead, it wants private companies to develop and operate commercial space stations in low Earth orbit, with NASA becoming one customer among many. This shift is creating a new commercial market where companies will compete to host astronauts, conduct research, and support business activities in space.
While the mission to the ISS requires NASA and international partner approval, the flight to Haven-1 is a private commercial mission between France and Vast and does not depend on NASA selecting the station.
Vast is one of the companies racing to be ready. Its Haven-1 is targeted to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027. The French government’s decision to trust Vast with its astronauts is being viewed as an early vote of confidence in the company’s ability to safely operate crewed missions — an important factor as NASA evaluates which commercial stations it will use after the ISS shuts down.
Vast CEO on the Historic Partnership
“This agreement reinforces Vast’s commitment to launch and operate the world’s first commercial space station,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “We are honored that France selected Vast for these historic missions.”
In his LinkedIn post, Haot wrote: “Today at Choose France, President Emmanuel Macron announced a historic agreement with Vast for 2 astronaut missions: Thomas Pesquet to the International Space Station and Arnaud Prost to Haven-1. Vast will also establish its European Headquarters in Paris. Thank you to the French Government, CNES and ESA for your partnership.”
A signal to NASA?
The International Space Station has been the world’s main orbiting laboratory for more than 25 years, but it is aging and NASA plans to retire it around 2030. Instead of building a new government-owned station, NASA wants private companies to develop and operate commercial space stations in low Earth orbit. These private platforms would host NASA astronauts for research while also serving paying customers for space tourism, in-orbit manufacturing, and other business activities.
This shift is creating a new commercial market in low Earth orbit that analysts expect to be worth billions of dollars over the next decade. Several companies — including Vast, Axiom Space, and others — are competing to build and operate the first successful private space stations. NASA will soon decide which of these commercial stations it will use to support its astronauts and science programs once the ISS is retired. Winning NASA’s backing would bring major contracts, technical credibility, and a strong advantage in attracting other customers, including foreign governments and private companies.
Vast’s agreement with France is being viewed as an important early signal. By choosing Vast to fly its astronauts — including veteran Thomas Pesquet on a mission to the ISS and Arnaud Prost on the first crewed flight to Vast’s Haven-1 station — the French government is showing it trusts the company to safely operate crewed missions. That kind of sovereign endorsement carries weight as NASA evaluates proposals for its future commercial space station needs.
For Vast, the deal provides valuable real-world flight experience and international credibility at a critical moment. It also demonstrates that governments are willing to book seats on commercial platforms, which strengthens the overall business case for private space stations and helps de-risk the emerging low-Earth-orbit economy for investors and future customers.
France’s Push for Sovereign Astronauts
The missions will focus on science experiments, technology demonstrations, and outreach developed with French industry and academia. Pesquet, who has already completed two long-duration ISS missions, will become one of the first non-NASA astronauts to command a private Crew Dragon flight. Prost, from ESA’s 2022 astronaut class, will gain valuable flight experience on the new commercial platform.
--> DIG DEEPER, via mtf.news: Meet the CEO Who Wants to Replace the International Space Station.
Vast aims to launch Haven-1 in 2027 as the first fully commercial space station in low Earth orbit. During my exclusive interview with Max Haot on the HELLO FUTURE podcast (the iHeart Media show covered by mtf.tv), he stressed the importance of building private infrastructure now to ensure continuous human presence in space and create new economic opportunities.
France Strengthens Commercial Space Ties
As part of the deal, Vast will establish its European headquarters in Paris, deepening ties with the French space ecosystem. More details on mission science objectives are expected at the International Space Summit in Paris this September. This partnership positions both France and Vast as leaders in the rapidly growing commercial spaceflight sector.
Source: SpaceNews | Max Haot LinkedIn | iHeart Media's HELLO FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli interview with Max Haot | Vast
-- Kevin Cirilli, founder mtf.news / mtf.tv
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