WASHINGTON, June 1, 2026 — While most people think of space stations as massive government projects, one CEO is betting that private industry can build the next generation faster, cheaper, and better. Max Haot, founder and CEO of Vast, is on a mission to replace the aging International Space Station with commercial platforms that could keep humans in low Earth orbit long after the ISS retires in 2030.
In a candid conversation on his HELLO FUTURE podcast, Haot laid out why he believes commercial companies — not another government program — are the only realistic path to avoiding a dangerous gap in America’s presence in space.
The ISS Is Retiring — and There’s No Government Replacement Coming
The International Space Station has been humanity’s primary orbiting laboratory for more than 25 years. But NASA plans to retire and deorbit it around 2030. Unlike past eras, there will be no new government-owned station to take its place. Instead, NASA is shifting to a commercial model: private companies will own and operate space stations, and NASA will become one customer among many — buying services rather than building and owning the infrastructure itself.
This change creates both urgency and opportunity. Without a successor ready in time, the U.S. risks losing its continuous foothold in low Earth orbit — a gap that could hand strategic advantages to China, which already operates its own space station. At the same time, it opens the door to a new commercial economy in orbit, where stations could support research, manufacturing, tourism, and technology development for a wide range of customers.
Max Haot’s Hardware-First Approach
Haot is not a traditional aerospace executive. He previously founded and scaled companies including Livestream and Mevo before turning his attention to space. At Vast, he is applying lessons from fast-moving tech startups to one of the most complex engineering challenges imaginable: building reliable, human-rated space stations.
Vast is taking a hardware-rich, vertically integrated approach focused on speed and cost discipline. Rather than waiting for perfect conditions or relying solely on government contracts, the company is pushing forward with its own capital. Its first station, Haven-1, is already in integration and targeted for launch in 2027 — with the goal of becoming the world’s first commercial space station. A follow-on system, Haven-2, is aimed at enabling continuous crewed operations by 2030.
During the HELLO FUTURE discussion, Haot emphasized that the commercial path is the only one fast enough to meet the 2030 timeline. He has been outspoken about the need to treat space station development as an engineering and business challenge rather than a purely political one.
Meet the CEO Who Wants to Replace the International Space Station mtf.tv
Why This Matters Beyond NASA
Replacing the ISS isn’t just about keeping astronauts in orbit. A thriving commercial low Earth orbit economy could unlock new industries — from microgravity manufacturing and advanced materials to pharmaceutical research and, eventually, space tourism. Analysts project significant growth in this sector over the next decade, creating high-skill jobs on the ground in manufacturing, engineering, integration, and operations.
For NASA, the shift offers major cost savings — potentially more than $1.5 billion annually — that can be redirected toward Moon and Mars exploration while the agency purchases services from private platforms. For companies like Vast, early wins with international partners (such as the recent agreement with France to fly astronauts on Vast missions) provide crucial credibility and real-world experience.
Haot’s bet is that building these stations now — with private capital and commercial discipline — will create a sustainable model that doesn’t depend on any single government customer. Success would mean not just replacing the ISS, but laying the foundation for a broader orbital economy.
The Race Is On
Vast is not alone in this pursuit. Other companies, including Axiom Space, are also developing commercial stations. NASA’s upcoming decisions on which commercial platforms it will support will help shape which players gain long-term traction.
For Haot and Vast, the mission is clear: move fast, execute on hardware, and deliver the infrastructure needed to keep humans in space without interruption. As the ISS era winds down, the companies that can reliably and affordably operate in orbit will help define the next era of space activity — and potentially create entirely new industries in the process.
Sources
- mtf.news: What Will Replace the ISS?
- mtf.news: HELLO FUTURE interview with Max Haot (iHeart Media / mtf.tv)
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