Vast to build high-power satellite buses

Vast said on May 19 that it is adding a satellite-bus business to a company better known for building commercial space stations, using hardware and software it says were already developed for its Haven program. The new line, called Vast Satellite, starts with a 15-kilowatt-class bus aimed at power-hungry missions in communications, Earth observation, national security and orbital data-center constellations. The move gives Vast a second product line as it continues work on Haven-1, its planned commercial station targeted for launch in 2027. Vast disclosed the expansion in a company statement, and trade outlets including Ars Technica, SpaceNews and Via Satellite separately reported the rollout. ### What exactly is Vast selling now? Vast said the first offering is a 15-kW-class satellite bus built around common in-house subsystems, including avionics, power, communications, propulsion and flight software. The company described the product as a flexible platform for missions that need more onboard electrical power than smaller standard buses can provide. (vastspace.com) Via Satellite reported that the bus is initially designed for low-Earth orbit and can carry payloads of more than 350 kilograms. The publication said options include X-band radio, third-party laser communication terminals and a software-defined radio platform. ### How does this connect to Vast’s space-station program? Vast said the satellite line uses technologies already developed for Haven-1, the company’s commercial space-station project. (vastspace.com) In its announcement, the company said the same core building blocks — avionics, power systems and flight software — were validated on Haven Demo, a small spacecraft it launched in November 2025. (satellitetoday.com) Haven Demo completed its mission and executed a controlled deorbit on Feb. 4, 2026, according to Vast. The company said that mission tested critical systems that now underpin both its station program and the new satellite-bus line. ### Did Vast announce any customers? Vast CEO Max Haot said the company has already booked an initial sale. (vastspace.com) In the company’s May 19 statement, Haot said a confidential customer signed for four satellites, with an option to buy as many as 200 more. Via Satellite reported that Vast is targeting a first launch in 2027 and planning to launch 10 satellites at once. (vastspace.com) That publication also said Vast is pitching the buses for uses including orbital data centers, AI edge compute and autonomous operations, with Nvidia’s Space-1 Vera Rubin module offered as an option. ### Why is Vast moving into buses now? (vastspace.com) March 5 gave Vast fresh capital for expansion when it said it had raised $500 million in new funding, including $300 million in Series A equity and $200 million in debt financing. The company said the money would accelerate production of Haven space stations, while trade coverage tied the satellite move to a broader diversification push. (satellitetoday.com) Max Haot said in the company statement that Vast believes it can compete in the high-power satellite market because of its engineering team, manufacturing scale and Haven Demo’s on-orbit performance. That assessment was the company’s own rationale; independent reports described the move as an expansion beyond station construction into a wider spacecraft-manufacturing business. (vastspace.com) ### What comes next for the company? Haven-1 remains a central milestone for Vast. On its website, the company says the station is targeted to launch in 2027, and its roadmap still centers on commercial low-Earth-orbit infrastructure. The next concrete markers are also dated. Vast said the first satellite launches are targeted for 2027, while Haven-1 is already in integration and remains scheduled for that same year, according to the company and Via Satellite. (vastspace.com) (satellitetoday.com) (vastspace.com)