Haven Demo

In-space testbed for Haven-1 space station technologies

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Haven Demo achieved mission success after deploying from the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission on November  2, 2025. The satellite was deorbited on February 4, 2026. Haven Demo achieved mission success after deploying from the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission on November  2, 2025. The satellite was deorbited on February 4, 2026. 

Haven-1

Haven Demo

Mission Complete

Mass:
Power:
Orbit:

552.19 kg
1,100 W
45°, 510 km

Demo

Systems and technologies

Haven Demo features components built in-house by Vast and our partners. The mission’s primary objective is to validate their performance and quality ahead of launching Haven-1.

Star trackers (2)

Maximum power point tracker

4K cameras (3)

Ultra-high frequency antenna (2)

S-Band radio (2)

S-Band antenna (6)

Satellite to satellite L-Band radio (IDRS) (1) and antennas (5)

Flight computers and networking devices (4)

Sun sensors (4)

Deployable solar array

Power distribution unit

Inertial measurement units (2)

Batteries (2)

40L Ethane tank

Impulse Saiph thrusters (3)

X-band multi-antenna dome

240L Nitrous oxide tank

Cold gas thrusters (24)

GPS Antenna (4)

Systems

01. X-band multi-antenna dome
02. Deployable Solar Array
03. Star trackers (2)
04. Ultra-high frequency antenna (2)
05. S-Band antenna (6)
06. Satellite to satellite L-Band radio (IDRS) (1) and antennas (5)
07. Flight computers and networking devices (4)
08. Sun sensors (4)
09. 40L Ethane tank
10. 4K cameras (3)
11. 240L Nitrous oxide tank
12. Impulse Saiph thrusters (3)
13. Inertial measurement units (2)
14. GPS Antenna (4)
15. Cold gas thrusters (24)
16. Batteries (2)
17. Power Distribution Unit
18. Maximum Power Point Tracker
19. s-band radio (2)

Development to deorbit

Executing the controlled deorbit of Haven Demo

February 4, 2026

The mission operations team monitors live telemetry and flight data as Haven Demo executes its controlled deorbit maneuver.

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Deorbit burn

February 3, 2026

Haven Demo successfully completes its initial perigee-lowering maneuver during final operations, demonstrating the spacecraft's ability to perform a controlled deorbit.

Haven Demo remains healthy

December 5, 2025

Haven Demo remains healthy during nominal operations as we continue to accomplish our test objectives for the spacecraft.

Commisioning

November 2, 2025

Haven Demo’s solar array deploys, indicating that the satellite is power-positive.

CEO Max Haot addresses the team

November 2, 2025, 02:40 AM EST (07:40 UTC)

Vast CEO Max Haot congratulates the team for their hard work in successfully developing and deploying Haven Demo, Vast’s first spacecraft.

First 4K video from Haven Demo

November 2, 2025, 02:40 AM EST (07:40 UTC)

Haven Demo achieved mission success after deploying from the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission. The spacecraft captured 4K video of its solar array deployment and is now power positive.

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First video feed from Haven Demo

November 2, 2025 02:01 AM EST (07:01 UTC)

The team sees Haven Demo from orbit for the first time.

First contact with Haven Demo

November 2, 2025, 01:47 AM EST (06:47 UTC)

Haven Demo is power positive, proving the solar array and Vast's power system are performing as expected.

First contact with Haven Demo

November 2, 2025, 01:47 AM EST (06:47 UTC)

Mission operators are now communicating with Haven Demo. Ground station providers are enabling radio frequency communications and serving as the primary interface between mission operators and the satellite.

First contact with Haven Demo

November 2, 2025, 01:47 AM EST (06:47 UTC)

Mission operators make first contact with Haven Demo on orbit. All vehicle systems are online.

Haven Demo successfully separates from the rocket

November 2, 2026, 01:20 AM EST (06:20 UTC)

Haven Demo separates from the rocket and begins orbiting on its own. Photo courtesy of SpaceX.

Mission control team waiting for vehicle separation

November 2, 2025, 01:10 AM EST (06:10 UTC)

Mission operators await Haven Demo’s separation from the rocket.

Haven Demo awaits vehicle separation from the rocket

November 2, 2025, 01:10 AM EST (06:10 UTC)

Haven Demo awaits separation from the rocket. Photo courtesy of SpaceX.

Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission liftoff

November 2, 2025, 01:09 AM EDT (05:09 UTC)

The Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission launches with Haven Demo. Photo courtesy of SpaceX.

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Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission ready to launch Haven Demo

November 1, 2025, 06:37 PM EDT (10:37 UTC)

Haven Demo awaits launch from the Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-40) on the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission. Photo courtesy of SpaceX.

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Launch preparation

October 20, 2025

At the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the team mated Haven Demo to the secondary payload adapter ring. The satellite will soon be transferred to the rocket for the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission.

Mission Simulations for Haven Demo

October 17, 2025

Mission simulations for Haven Demo build mission readiness, integrating our mission operators, control room, ground software, and infrastructure with a hardware-in-the-loop version of Haven Demo.

Haven Demo ready for shipment

September 19, 2025

Now fully integrated, Haven Demo is ready to be shipped from Vast headquarters in Long Beach, CA to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for launch on the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission.

Integration Complete

September 13, 2025

Haven Demo, our in orbit testbed for critical systems that will fly on Haven-1, is now fully integrated.

Electromagnetic Compatibility testing

August 1, 2025

Haven Demo is undergoing electromagnetic compatibility testing to ensure all onboard avionics are protected from signal interference during integration, transport, launch, and spaceflight.

Thermal Vacuum chamber simulation

July 2, 2025

Haven Demo has moved into the thermal vacuum chamber to simulate the extreme temperatures and vacuum conditions of space, preparing the satellite for being in-orbit.

Vibration Testing

June 23, 2025

Haven Demo is now undergoing vibration testing at our Long Beach headquarters. This test will simulate the dynamic loads the satellite will experience during launch.

Center of Gravity Testing

March 21, 2025

Haven Demo undergoes center of gravity testing during integration to ensure that the satellite’s mass distribution is correctly balanced.

Integration Begins

March 04, 2025

Integration of Haven Demo systems and components begins at Vast headquarters in Long Beach, CA.

Hardware-in-the-loop testing

January 31, 2025

Haven Demo undergoes Hardware-in-the-loop testing. Here, the team will validate the fault-tolerant software that will be responsible for maintaining the overall health and safety of the satellite, providing an interface for mission operators to interact with the spacecraft throughout the mission.

Design and manufacturing begins

Vast engineers begin designing and manufacturing Haven Demo as a proving ground for the systems and technologies that will power Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station.

See the manufacturing,
testing, launch, and deployment
of Haven Demo.

Mission moments

View moments from Haven Demo’s mission in orbit.

Mission moments

View moments from Haven Demo’s mission in orbit.

Fullscreen

Mission phases

Launched November 2025

Deorbited February 2026

Commissioning

Nominal Operations

Final Operations

Deorbit

Launch and Early Orbit Phase

Orbital Maneuver Burn

Deorbit Burn

Nominal Mission Duration

Mission

Stepping stones to a continuously crewed space station

Insights from the Haven Demo mission will inform the continued development of Haven-1, the world's first commercial space station, and Haven-2, the proposed successor to the International Space Station.

Our Roadmap