VAST selects Impulse Space for Haven-1 Space Station Propulsion
by Simon Mansfield
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 18, 2023
In an important move for commercial space travel, Vast, an innovative company in space habitation technologies, has partnered with Impulse Space for the provision of propulsion systems for the Haven-1 Space Station. The two companies will closely collaborate to install this crucial subsystem to Haven-1, which is planned to be launched into low-Earth orbit using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in August 2025. Upon successful launch, Haven-1 will represent a significant milestone as the world's first commercial space station.

Impulse Space's Founder and CEO, Tom Mueller, conveyed the company's enthusiasm for this groundbreaking endeavor, stating, "Impulse Space is excited to work with Vast on a project that will accelerate commercial activity in space. Our qualified Saiph thruster is a perfect fit for Haven-1's propulsion requirements. We look forward to collaborating with such a dedicated and like-minded team."

Impulse Space's contribution, the Haven-1 propulsion system, will feature Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters to enhance the control moment gyros onboard and deorbit thrusters for the station's end-of-life operations. The already qualified Saiph thruster will have gained extensive flight experience from several LEO missions that started in October 2023, prior to the launch of Haven-1.

In addition to the thrusters, the propulsion system will also employ a non-toxic propellant combination of nitrous oxide and ethane, a standard for other space vehicles developed by both Impulse Space and Vast. The full propulsion system will comprise propellant tanks, Saiph thrusters, fluid lines, valves, sensors, control electronics, and software.

Jed McCaleb, founder and CEO of Vast, shared the company's strategy and the reasons behind the partnership. "To support our goal to launch Haven-1 in just over two years and become the world's first commercial space station, we decided to partner on multiple subsystems to increase the likelihood of meeting our timeline with full mission success," he explained. "We are thrilled that Tom and his team at Impulse Space agreed to provide their Saiph-based propulsion system for Haven-1."

Following its launch, Haven-1 will function as an independent crewed space station. Four crewed missions are planned to be undertaken before it becomes a module of a larger Vast space station currently under development. The first crewed mission, Vast-1, will be launched in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and will dock with Haven-1 for a period of 30 days while orbiting Earth.

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