Space
SpaceX, Startup Vast Ink Deal for Astronaut Trips to Space Station
- Missions would expand Vast’s ties with Elon Musk’s SpaceX
- Aerospace startup among firms vying to commercialize orbit
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Vast Space LLC, the aerospace startup founded by former crypto tycoon Jed McCaleb, has hired SpaceX to launch two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station, part of its plans to commercialize Earth’s orbit.
The deal, announced on Thursday, is contingent on Vast winning a bid to participate in a NASA program that promotes sending private astronauts to the orbiting research lab. Since 2019, NASA has allowed companies to send civilian crews to the ISS, helping these firms better understand the costs and challenges of operating space stations.