This article is based on an official press release from Vast Space.

Vast Space Selected by NASA for Sixth Private Astronaut Mission to ISS

NASA has officially selected Vast Space to conduct the sixth private astronaut mission (PAM-6) to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, targeted for launch no earlier than summer 2027, marks a significant expansion in the commercial landscape of Low Earth Orbit (LEO). According to the announcement from the Long Beach-based aerospace company, this selection positions Vast as a key player in NASA’s strategy to transition from government-led operations to a commercial space economy.

The mission will utilize a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a Dragon spacecraft to transport four private astronauts to the orbiting laboratory. While the specific crew members have not yet been named, Vast confirmed that the mission will focus heavily on science and research, distinguishing it from purely tourism-focused endeavors. This contract award represents a major milestone for Vast, which was founded in 2021 and is simultaneously developing its own commercial space station, Haven-1.

Mission Profile and Objectives

Under the terms of the agreement, the PAM-6 mission is designed to spend up to 14 days docked at the ISS. Vast stated in their press release that the primary objective is to conduct a broad range of experiments, including biology, biotechnology, physical sciences, and human research. This focus aligns with NASA’s requirement that private missions contribute to the utilization of the ISS’s research capabilities.

Vast will be responsible for the end-to-end mission management, including crew selection, training, and mission execution, subject to rigorous approval by NASA and its international partners. The company emphasized that this operational experience is critical for their long-term goals.

“Leveraging the remaining life of the International Space Station with science and research-led commercial crewed missions is a critical part of the transition to commercial space stations and fully unlocking the orbital economy.”

, Max Haot, CEO of Vast

Operational Timeline

The summer 2027 target date places PAM-6 in a busy operational window for the company. According to company timelines, Vast intends to launch its own single-module space station, Haven-1, in the first quarter of 2027. If these schedules hold, Vast could be managing two separate human spaceflight programs, one to the ISS and one to its own outpost, within the same calendar year.

Strategic Context: The Road to Haven

Vast views the PAM-6 mission as more than just a flight to the ISS; it is an operational pathfinder for their future independent stations. By managing a crewed mission to the ISS, the company aims to refine the logistics, training protocols, and safety procedures required to operate Haven-1 and its planned successor, Haven-2.

According to industry data, Vast successfully launched a “Haven Demo” pathfinder spacecraft in November 2025 aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission. That demonstration validated critical subsystems such as avionics and propulsion, likely contributing to NASA’s confidence in awarding the PAM-6 contract.

Dana Weigel, NASA’s ISS Program Manager, highlighted the agency’s goal of fostering a robust commercial market through these missions.

“By hosting private astronaut missions, the station helps accelerate innovation, opens new commercial pathways, and advances research strengthening the foundation of a thriving space economy.”

, Dana Weigel, NASA ISS Program Manager

AirPro News analysis

The selection of Vast for PAM-6 signals a notable shift in the private astronaut market, which has previously been dominated by Axiom Space. Axiom operated the first four private missions to the ISS (Ax-1 through Ax-4) and holds the contract for Ax-5. By selecting a second provider, NASA appears to be actively encouraging competition and reducing reliance on a single vendor for commercial access to the station.

Furthermore, this “dual-track” strategy, where Vast pursues both ISS missions and its own station simultaneously, is aggressive. It suggests that the company is positioning itself not just as a participant in the current ISS program, but as a leading contender for the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program that will eventually replace the ISS around 2030.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the mission launch?
The mission is targeted for launch no earlier than summer 2027.

Who will be on board?
Vast will select four crew members. Their names have not been announced, but they will undergo NASA and international partner approval.

What spacecraft will be used?
The mission will use a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

How does this relate to Haven-1?
Vast plans to launch its own station, Haven-1, in early 2027. The ISS mission (PAM-6) serves as an operational experience builder and risk-reduction exercise for the company’s long-term habitation goals.

Sources

• Vast Space Press Release
• NASA Official Announcement

Hypersonix Sets Launch Window for Maiden “Cassowary Vex” Hypersonic Mission

Australian aerospace manufacturer Hypersonix Launch Systems has officially announced the launch window for the first flight of its DART AE (Additive Engineering) hypersonic vehicle. According to the company, the mission, codenamed “Cassowary Vex”, is scheduled to launch no earlier than late February 2026 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, Virginia.

This upcoming flight marks a significant milestone in the development of reusable hypersonic technologies. The mission will utilize a Rocket Lab HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) vehicle to boost the DART AE to its initial release speed. The primary objective is to validate the performance of the SPARTAN scramjet engine, a hydrogen-fueled propulsion system that is entirely 3D-printed.

The mission is being conducted in partnership with the United States Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), highlighting the deepening defense technology collaboration between the U.S. and Australia under the HyCAT (Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities) program.

Mission Profile: “Cassowary Vex”

The mission profile, detailed in recent industry reports, involves a complex sequence of events designed to test the limits of autonomous hypersonic flight. The launch vehicle, Rocket Lab’s HASTE, will lift the 3.5-meter DART AE to the upper atmosphere. Once the booster accelerates the payload to approximately Mach 5, the DART AE will separate and ignite its own engine.

According to mission specifications released by Hypersonix, the vehicle will then accelerate under its own power to a target speed of Mach 7 (approximately 8,600 km/h). The flight aims to demonstrate non-ballistic, reusable flight characteristics, distinguishing it from traditional missile tests.

Launch Logistics

The launch is set to take place at Launch Complex 2 at MARS. While the window opens in late February, Hypersonix has stated that the exact timing will be confirmed 24 hours prior to liftoff. The mission name, “Cassowary Vex,” references the flightless Australian bird, while the launch service itself has been humorously dubbed “That’s Not A Knife,” a cultural nod to the film Crocodile Dundee.

Technology Spotlight: The SPARTAN Scramjet

The core technology under review during this mission is the SPARTAN scramjet engine. Unlike many competitors that utilize kerosene-based fuels, the SPARTAN engine runs on green hydrogen. Hypersonix claims this fuel choice offers a higher specific impulse, resulting in greater efficiency and a clean burn that produces only water vapor.

The “AE” in the vehicle’s name stands for Additive Engineering. The entire airframe and engine are constructed using high-temperature alloys, such as Inconel, capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. The engine features a fixed-geometry design with no moving parts, a feature intended to increase reliability while reducing manufacturing costs.

In a statement regarding the engineering effort, Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill emphasized the collaborative nature of the project:

“This flight reflects years of engineering work and the confidence of our partners at DIU, NASA, and Rocket Lab. It brings us a meaningful step closer to operational hypersonic systems that are reusable, sustainable, and strategically relevant for Australia and for our allies.”

Strategic Context and Market Landscape

The “Cassowary Vex” mission arrives during a period of intense activity within the hypersonic sector. The flight is part of the DIU’s HyCAT program, which selected Hypersonix to provide a testbed capable of high-cadence testing for U.S. defense technologies.

Recent industry data places Hypersonix alongside other key players in the reusable hypersonic race. For instance, Stratolaunch successfully recovered its Talon-A2 vehicle in March 2025 after a Mach 5+ flight, and Hermeus completed the first flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 1 in May 2025. However, Hypersonix distinguishes itself by demonstrating a ground-launch capability via a rocket booster, rather than an air-launch system.

Dr. Michael Smart, Co-Founder and CTO of Hypersonix, noted the importance of real-world testing:

“DART AE allows us to validate propulsion, materials, and control systems at speeds and temperatures that simply can’t be replicated on the ground. What we learn from this mission will directly inform the next generation of operational hypersonic vehicles.”

AirPro News analysis

The decision to utilize green hydrogen for the SPARTAN scramjet represents a calculated risk with potentially high rewards. While hydrogen offers superior energy density by weight compared to hydrocarbon fuels, it presents storage and volumetric challenges. If the “Cassowary Vex” mission successfully demonstrates sustained Mach 7 flight using this fuel source, it could validate hydrogen as a viable fuel for future high-speed logistics and defense platforms, moving the industry away from heavier, dirtier hydrocarbon alternatives.

Furthermore, the reliance on additive manufacturing (3D printing) for the entire airframe suggests a shift toward rapid scalability. Traditional aerospace manufacturing is often slow and tooling-intensive. By printing the vehicle from high-temperature alloys, Hypersonix is attempting to prove that hypersonic vehicles can be produced quickly and at a lower cost, a critical requirement for the “high-cadence” testing sought by the US Defense Innovation Unit.

Financial Backing

Hypersonix’s development has been supported by significant capital investment. The company recently closed a $46 million Series A funding round. Investors include the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, the Queensland Investment Corporation, High Tor Capital (UK), and Saab (Sweden). This diverse backing underscores the international interest in the DART AE platform.

Sources

• Hypersonix Launch Systems
• Industry Reports

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission successfully lifted off early Friday morning, marking the beginning of an eight-month scientific expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). According to official reports from the space agency, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 5:15 a.m. EST on February 13, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The mission carries a diverse international crew of four, including two NASA astronauts, one European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, and one Roscosmos cosmonaut. The crew is traveling aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Freedom, which successfully separated from the rocket’s second stage and achieved orbit shortly after launch. NASA confirms the spacecraft is currently executing a series of engine burns to rendezvous with the orbiting laboratory, with docking scheduled for approximately 3:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 14.

Crew Profile and Mission Roles

The Crew-12 team comprises a mix of veteran spacefarers and first-time flyers who will join Expedition 74 aboard the ISS. NASA officials highlighted the specific roles and backgrounds of the four crew members:

• Jessica Meir (Commander, NASA): A veteran of Expedition 61/62 and a marine biologist, Meir is making her second trip to space. She is historically noted for participating in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. As Commander, she is responsible for all phases of the flight from launch to re-entry.
• Jack Hathaway (Pilot, NASA): Making his first spaceflight, Hathaway is a U.S. Navy Commander and test pilot with over 2,500 flight hours. He joined the NASA astronaut corps in 2021 and is responsible for monitoring spacecraft systems and performance.
• Sophie Adenot (Mission Specialist, ESA): An engineer and helicopter test pilot from France, Adenot is the first astronaut from the ESA’s 2022 class to reach orbit. Her mission segment is officially designated “Epsilon” by the ESA.
• Andrey Fedyaev (Mission Specialist, Roscosmos): A Russian cosmonaut and military pilot, Fedyaev previously flew on the Crew-6 mission in 2023. He is tasked with monitoring flight phases and managing the Russian segment’s schedule.

Scientific Objectives for Expedition 74

During their eight-month stay, the crew will conduct hundreds of experiments designed to prepare humanity for future deep-space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA has outlined several critical research areas for this mission.

Medical and Biological Research

A primary focus of the mission involves understanding how the space environment affects human health. One key study will investigate how Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria interact with heart tissue in microgravity. According to mission documentation, bacteria can become more virulent in space, and researchers aim to identify the mechanisms behind potential long-term heart damage caused by respiratory infections.

Additionally, the crew will study fluid shifts and blood flow. This research examines how physical characteristics influence clotting risks during spaceflight, a vital dataset for mitigating health risks on long-duration missions.

Technology Demonstrations

The crew is also tasked with testing new life-support technologies. NASA highlights a system designed to generate intravenous (IV) fluids directly from the station’s water supply. This capability is considered critical for future Mars missions, where the logistical burden of carrying large supplies of pre-packaged medical fluids would be impractical.

Launch Infrastructure and Hardware

The launch of Crew-12 represents a continued effort to expand the operational redundancy of commercial spaceflight infrastructure. This mission is only the second human spaceflight to launch from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40). Historically used for cargo and satellite missions, SpaceX upgraded the pad to support crewed launches, providing a backup to the primary pad at Launch Complex 39A.

The hardware for this mission also highlights the reusability central to the Commercial Crew Program. The Dragon capsule Freedom is making its return to space, having previously supported the Crew-4, Ax-2, Ax-3, and Crew-9 missions.

AirPro News Analysis

The successful utilization of SLC-40 for Crew-12 underscores a maturing commercial space ecosystem. By validating a second launch pad for human missions, NASA and SpaceX have effectively mitigated the risk of single-point ground infrastructure failure. This redundancy is essential for maintaining a continuous human presence on the ISS, especially as the station approaches its final years of operation and traffic to low-Earth orbit increases.

Furthermore, the inclusion of an ESA rookie alongside seasoned NASA and Roscosmos veterans illustrates the continued reliance on the ISS as a diplomatic and cooperative platform. Despite geopolitical tensions on Earth, the integrated crew operations required for Expedition 74 demonstrate that space remains a unique venue for international collaboration.

Sources

• NASA Commercial Crew Blog
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• Space.com