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NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
As Race To Replace Space Station Heats Up, California Company Bets On Haven-1
As the International Space Station (ISS) approaches its retirement, the race to build the next generation of space stations is heating up, particularly in the commercial sector. Leading the charge is Max Haot, the CEO of VAST Space, a company dedicated to creating a commercial space station named Haven-1. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Mr Haot shared insights into the unique aspects of Haven-1, the competition with other entities like Axiom and India, and the potential for collaboration with ISRO. "We're going through an era where the current International Space Station is one of the most expensive objects ever created by humans, about $150 billion," Mr Haot said. "And we are now transitioning to an era where the commercial space stations are run by commercial entities, not by the government. The two key criteria are safety and dramatically lowering the cost." NASA is running a competition called the Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Destination (CLD) program, where in July 2026, they are expected to pick one or two winners to develop the replacement for the ISS. Mr Haot emphasised VAST Space's unique strategy: to build a commercial space station before NASA makes its decision. "No one has ever built a commercial space station yet. And we want to build one before NASA makes the decision." The space station, named Haven-1, integrates with the Crew Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX and is set to launch on a single Falcon 9 rocket in May 2026. "It is a single module space station that can house a crew of four with important science, Starlink internet, sleeping berths, and all the consumables to live there on a two-week mission. It will be in orbit for three years. During that time, we will have four two-week missions with the Dragon spacecraft," he said. Mr Haot explained that the main reason for building Haven-1 is to win the NASA competition to develop a much larger space station composed of nine modules. "We believe that if we are selected in July 2026, we will have the first module up for NASA and other international partners in orbit by the end of 2028, a year ahead of what NASA requires. More importantly, it will allow NASA and its partners to test the replacement with a two-year overlap before the retirement of the ISS." When asked about the cost, Mr Haot highlighted the significant reduction compared to the ISS. "VAST is investing a billion dollars by the time we fly Haven-1 next year, in private funding and some of our customer revenue. We've developed all the facilities, all the technologies. We have about 850 people in our California, Los Angeles facility." He emphasised the efficiency of vertical integration in reducing costs and speeding up development. "We can make the next module not only quicker - in two and a half years instead of three - but at a much lower cost because we build everything from the primary structure to a lot of the systems in-house." The competition in the commercial space sector is fierce, with Axiom Space being a notable contender. Axiom plans to link its module to the ISS, but Mr Haot believes VAST Space has an edge. "They started a long time before us, but I think the facts are telling us they're going much slower. Their stated strategy is to launch that module in 2027. If we achieve our goal, we're already at least one year earlier than them." Mr Haot pointed out the strategic advantage of building a free-flyer space station that does not rely on the ISS. "We are building a free flyer, which does not need the ISS and can be standalone, regardless of what happens to the ISS." India is also entering the space station race with plans to launch its first module of the Bhartiya Antariksha Station by 2028. Mr Haot sees potential for collaboration rather than competition. "Absolutely. India might have more interest in training more astronauts before its space station. That could be an interesting discussion - to maybe bring an Indian astronaut to Haven-1."
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Thomson View's $810 million sale put on hold after lawyers submitted ‘incomplete' documents
UOL, SingLand and CLD signed a conditional call-and-put option in October 2024 to acquire the 99-year leasehold development at $810 million. PHOTO: THE BUSINESS TIMES SINGAPORE - The $810 million sale of Thomson View condominium was put on hold by a High Court judge after the lawyers representing the collective sale committee (CSC) submitted 'incomplete' documents. At least 25 residents and parties related to the Thomson View sale packed the courtroom on May 22, awaiting the High Court's ruling on the fate of the $810 million sale, potentially the biggest residential collective sale since Chuan Park's $890 million sale in May 2023. High Court Judge Audrey Lim spent a better part of the hearing dressing down the lawyers of the Thomson View CSC for errors in documents, including submitting an 'incomplete' affidavit, and told them 'it is important you do the proper due diligence'. Thomson View was sold to UOL, Singapore Land (SingLand) and CapitaLand Development (CLD), after at least 80 per cent of owners (206 units) consented to lower their reserve price to $808 million, allowing them to accept the $810 million offer that was below their original reserve price of $918 million. UOL, SingLand and CLD signed a conditional call-and-put option in October 2024 to acquire the 99-year leasehold development at $810 million. On Nov 25, 2024, UOL announced that it had exercised the call option for the purchase. In trying to determine if the 80 per cent threshold was met, Justice Lim sought clarifications on the number of signatures in the collective sale agreement (CSA) dated Jan 4, 2024, and the number of signatures in a supplementary collective sale agreement. The judge pointed out that 'the first time period to obtain all the signatures to cross the 80 per cent threshold is 12 months from the first signature, which means that all 206 signatures must be obtained between Jan 8, 2023, and Jan 7, 2024. 'Some of the signatures are signed out of the time period in October and November 2024,' Justice Lim noted. CSC lawyer Hui Choon Wai, a partner at Wee Seow Teow LLP, told the court that 'there were 211 unit holders' signatures on the CSA, of which 206 signed the supplementary agreement'. Justice Lim then asked Ms Hui to explain in another affidavit 'how the CSA and the supplementary CSA differs, in that the CSA contained 211 unit holders' signatures and the supplementary CSA contained 206 of these unit holders' signatures.' 'For the supplementary affidavit, it should only exhibit the extra five unit holders' signatures which are not found in the CSA already exhibited in (CSC member) Cecilia Koh's first affidavit. 'The affidavit should also explain how many of these unit holders signed between Jan 8, 2023, and Jan 7, 2024, and what proportion in terms of shares and plot size they comprise, and whether the 80 per cent requirement was met within the 12-month period,' the judge said. 'The affidavit should also explain that for those signatures that I have pointed out, that are after Jan 7, 2024, how many units they comprise and what is the proportion in terms of shares and plot size,' Justice Lim added. 'If the 80 per cent threshold is not made out, counsel is to file written submissions to explain why the court should grant this application' to approve the sale, Justice Lim said. 'It is important you do the proper due diligence,' the judge said. 'You spent a lot of time trying to get the requisite (80 per cent) threshold... and you have errors all over the place,' she added. A group of dissenting homeowners had filed objections to the Strata Titles Boards (STB) , which stopped the en bloc process after mediation efforts failed. It is unclear on what grounds they objected to the sale. Two of the six dissenting homeowners – Goh Mia Song and Lim Choe San – who had withdrawn their objections on March 29, were at the hearing. When asked by The Straits Times why they had objected initially, both declined to comment. The other four dissenting parties did not attend the hearing. They had withdrawn their objections one day before the CSC applied to the High Court on March 28 to seek approval for the sale. Apart from the stop order issued on March 19 for Thomson View, there have been no other stop orders issued for collective sales so far in 2025, an STB spokesperson told ST. The next court mention is July 1. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
RISE Robotics Awarded U.S. Army Phase I Contract to Explore Advanced Collapsible Lightweight Crane Technology
SOMERVILLE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RISE Robotics, a leader in next-generation actuation technologies, today announced it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Army to explore the feasibility of developing collapsible, ultra-lightweight cranes for rapid deployment in resource-constrained and expeditionary environments. The eight-month, $250,000 contract is sponsored by Letterkenny Army Depot and was awarded under the Army's Mobile Sustainment Tools Open Topic (A244-P056). The effort aims to evaluate how RISE's proprietary Beltdraulic™ actuation system can be leveraged to develop portable structural systems that are easy to transport, quick to assemble, and capable of withstanding harsh conditions. 'This effort reflects the Army's growing focus on enabling rapid mobility and logistical efficiency in the field,' said Tom Phelps, COO of RISE Robotics. 'With this Phase I award, we're excited to explore how our Beltdraulic technology can address critical operational gaps through lighter, more agile lifting equipment.' The Phase I work builds on RISE's proven track record of delivering defense-grade lifting systems. RISE previously completed a Phase III production contract with the U.S. Air Force for the Common Lifting Device (CLD), a compact, electronic-free lift system developed to support the MC-130J Silent Knight Radar program. The CLD features a lift capacity of 200 pounds, a maximum lift height of 11 feet 10 inches, and a total system weight of just 215 pounds, all within a 6'X3'X3" footprint. Its successful transition to production highlights RISE's ability to deliver innovative, field-deployable solutions at scale. Under this new Army contract, RISE will investigate how its CLD platform and Beltdraulic architecture can be adapted to meet Army-specific needs. This includes exploring structural modifications, such as moving boom-type crane arms, evaluating the use of larger wheels for off-road mobility, and developing design variants for lower-profile lifting use cases. RISE team members will engage directly with Army personnel to gather operational insights and define mission-driven requirements for future development. The Phase I effort will include demonstrating CLD capabilities to Army stakeholders, developing a tailored requirements document based on end-user feedback, and a roadmap identifying high-impact Army applications for a next-generation collapsible crane. The outcome will help shape a potential Phase II program to deliver a prototype that meets expeditionary mission requirements. For more information about RISE Robotics and its advanced lifting technologies, visit About RISE Robotics: RISE Robotics is transforming industrial actuation with Beltdraulic™, a fluid-free linear actuator technology that delivers hydraulic-like power without the disadvantages. Using a belt-and-pulley system instead of oil, Beltdraulic enhances mission readiness by cutting fuel consumption (and associated logistical costs) in half, eliminating exposure of personnel to pollutants, and significantly reducing maintenance and manpower requirements. RISE is a Reg CF company, allowing both accredited and non-accredited investors to own a piece of its innovative technology through Wefunder.
The National
22-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Elon Musk's call to retire ISS could shift the balance of power in space
Elon Musk's suggestion of deorbiting the International Space Station in two years has highlighted the growing power struggle over who will control low-Earth orbit after the station is retired. Mr Musk, owner of SpaceX, Tesla and social media platform X, said on Thursday that it was ultimately US President Donald Trump's decision when to deorbit the station. But he recommended doing so 'as soon as possible' and added: 'I recommend two years from now'. He also added 'let's go to Mars', reinforcing his long-standing vision of prioritising deep-space exploration. Nasa and its station partners, the European Space Agency, Japan, Canada and Russia, had already agreed to retire the ISS in 2030. The US space agency wanted to stick to this timeline to avoid a gap before commercial stations are ready, which would leave low-Earth orbit under China's control with its Tiangong station as the only operational outpost. Dr Gordon Osinski, Earth sciences professor and planetary geologist at Western University in Ontario, Canada, told The National that Mr Musk's suggestions would have to be discussed with their partners first. He said the 2030 timeframe is 'the focus of international agreements and so it seems ludicrous to suggest this in a social media post'. 'I'm also not sure of the practically of deorbiting the ISS. It was only last year that Nasa announced the award of a contract to build the US Deorbit Vehicle, which is required to safely bring the station down in 2030,' he said. 'This will take years to build and there is no way, because of its size, to deorbit the ISS safely without this vehicle. Perhaps Elon has forgotten that his company, SpaceX, was awarded this contract?' The ISS has been a symbol of international co-operation since 1998, hosting astronauts from multiple nations and advancing scientific research in microgravity. But with ageing hardware and rising costs, the future depends on a new generation of private space stations. Mr Musk has significant influence over the US administration through his leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), an advisory body conducting audits of federal organisations, including Nasa. There is now uncertainty at Nasa over budget allocations and the future of its programmes, as Doge's reviews could lead to funding cuts. Nasa operates the Commercial Destinations in Low-Earth Orbit (CLD) programme, which funds companies developing private stations meant to replace the ISS. Sahith Madara, an aerospace engineer and founder of the advisory firm Bumi and Space, based in Paris, told The National that Mr Musk's comments casts doubt over the future of this programme. 'The CLD programme faces uncertainty as Musk's influence grows and funding shifts toward Artemis and Mars missions,' he said. 'If Nasa scales back CLD, private stations like Starlab and Orbital Reef could struggle, potentially giving China's Tiangong an edge in LEO (Low-Earth orbit). SpaceX, with its deep government ties, could step in as the main US orbital infrastructure provider, but for now, the future of US dominance in LEO remains in flux.' Mr Madara added that the Pentagon's increasing interest in defence-focused space stations could also shape Nasa's direction, making military-backed initiatives a bigger priority. 'With its dominance in space transport through Falcon 9 and Starship, deep ties with Nasa and the Pentagon, and strong government contracts, SpaceX is well-positioned to shape the future of space habitation,' he said. 'Musk's connections within government agencies further strengthen SpaceX's role in securing major contracts and influencing US space policy. Whether SpaceX develops its own private space station or leads new public-private partnerships, its access to funding and infrastructure puts it in a prime position amid growing competition.' Mr Musk's comments on de-orbiting the ISS came hours after an argument with an astronaut on his X platform. Andreas Mogensen, Denmark's first astronaut who served as the ISS commander in 2023, called Mr Musk a liar after the billionaire claimed that Nasa astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded on the station due to political reasons. Mr Mogensen said Nasa had already confirmed that Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore would return to Earth in March as originally scheduled on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission. Mr Musk replied to the astronaut saying that he was 'fully retarded' and an 'idiot'. Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore arrived on the ISS on June 6 for the first crewed flight of Boeing's commercial space programme, which was meant to last for two weeks. But their quick stay turned into a space odyssey when their Boeing Starliner craft suffered a series of helium leaks and thruster problems after docking. Their return is scheduled for March 12.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vast Space now aims for 2026 launch of Haven-1 space station after key milestone (photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Vast Space is taking big steps toward putting the first commercial space station in orbit. The California-based startup recently completed a major testing milestone for the qualification vessel of its upcoming Haven-1 station, a benchmark Vast also used to reevaluate the launch date for the company's first flight-ready module. "With the completion of our primary structure qualification test and a fully assembled team, we now have greater clarity on our build and launch schedule. As a result, we are updating our timeline," Vast said in a statement. Haven-1 will ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to low-Earth orbit — a mission that was initially slated for this August. Now, Vast expects Haven-1 to launch no earlier than May 2026. Even with the delay, it's still an "ambitious timeline," the company said. But Vast remains optimistic: "If all goes as planned, we will have designed, built, and launched the world's first commercial space station in three years — a pace never before achieved in human spaceflight." Vast began manufacturing the Haven-1 qualification article at its Long Beach headquarters in July 2024 and transported the module to the company's test stand in Mojave, California, last month. There, the module began a series of campaigns to qualify the module's structural integrity. Those campaigns are ongoing, but one passed recently was a significant hurdle for the module's continued development. Using dry nitrogen, Vast pressurized the module on the test stand twice — the first for a duration of five hours, and the second for 48 hours. According to the company's data, Haven-1's pressure sensors showed an "indiscernible" leak rate, exceeding the vessel's requirements and falling within compliance for NASA's crew-rated spacecraft qualifications. Image 1 of 4 Image 2 of 4 Image 3 of 4 Image 4 of 4 That last bit is important. Vast is hoping to win the bid for NASA's Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) contract in 2026, and wants to put itself ahead of the competition. With the International Space Station (ISS) approaching retirement at the end of 2030, NASA has been eager for companies to get commercial space stations up and running. Indeed, nearly half a dozen other private contenders have voiced plans to construct their own LEO destinations — namely, Northrop Grumman, Axiom Space, Nanoracks and Sierra Space. As those companies tread water while they gauge market demand or continue their station developments in the background, Vast says it's on track to get Haven-1 to orbit in record time, and has begun actively seeking out customers and scientists with research they want to fly to space. In the weeks ahead, the test module will be submitted to simulated launch pressures using hydraulic actuators on the Mojave test stand, as well as undergo structural load tests while under pressure. Even as the qualification article began its test campaign at the end of last month, Vast was already manufacturing the Haven-1 flight vehicle — the one going to space. Matching the six-month pace the qualification module took from manufacturing to its tests in Mojave, Vast aims to complete the primary structure for the flight module by July of this year. The company's full timeline, from now through the first crewed mission to Haven-1 is as follows: Related stories: — NASA looks to private outposts to build on International Space Station's legacy — Private space station: How Axiom Space plans to build its orbital outpost — SpaceX and Vast want ideas for science experiments on Dragon spacecraft and Haven-1 space station Once Haven-1 is operational in orbit, Vast plans to launch a four-person crew to the outpost aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. That mission will last about two weeks, as the astronauts check out the station's systems and habitability. Looking ahead even further, Vast has already unveiled its plans for Haven-2, a second module design that will dock with Haven-1 to increase the space station's capacity and capabilities. Vast is currently targeting 2028 for the first Haven-2 launch, with plans to to add to the modular station through 2032 to eventually exceed the current capabilities of the ISS.
