Possibility of using Gaganyaan rockets as transport service for our upcoming space station, says US firm CEO

NEW DELHI:

Max Haot

, chief executive officer of US-based company

Vast

, which is planning to launch the world’s first

commercial space station

, has evinced interest in using Indian rockets to transport crew members to its upcoming orbital laboratory.In an interview to

TOI

, Haot, who recently visited India to attend an international space conference GLEX-2025, said, “There is a possibility of using

Gaganyaan rockets

as a transport service for our space station.”The space-habitation company, which has 750+ team members, is in the race to build a space station called Haven-2 that will be the successor to the International Space Station, which will be retired by 2031.The CEO said, “We want to work with all nations that are engaged in human spaceflight missions and see that India is about to be a leader in human spaceflight, which is really a great thing. We look forward to collaborating with India. We are open to many levels of collaboration. In space stations, we are open to technology exchange within the confines of the export control (regime).”

Haot said, “We are very impressed with Isro and the Indian govt in achieving new capabilities, especially in regard to their upcoming Gaganyaan programme and

Axiom-4 mission

to the ISS that will make India the fourth country in the world to achieve the capability to send an astronaut to space.”Before Haven-2, the California-based company plans to launch Haven-1, a single-module space station, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in May 2026. The Haven-1 spacecraft has a 45-metre-cubed volume and is designed to support up to four crew members for missions of an average of two weeks in length.The first module of Haven-2, a much larger space station, is expected to be launched in 2028. Vast is planning to have the first operational module in 2028 and a fully built and functional space station in 2032. This will be designed for both govt and commercial use. It will have nine modules, 500 cubic metre of habitable volume and 86KW of total power. “We are seeking Nasa aid for the Haven-2 project, which will be managed by VAST. Once operational, this commercial space station will be open to all.”Isro is going to launch its crewed Gaganyaan mission in 2027 and if the mission is successful, more such crewed missions will be launched to space. Though India is making its own Bharatiya Antariksh Station, the collaboration with VAST for its commercial space station is likely to be beneficial to India as Isro will gain from the company’s expertise in setting up a space station.