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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Vast Space, a California-based aerospace company, plans to launch Haven-1 — the world’s first commercial space station — in May 2026
• The station, a single-module proof-of-concept, is being developed in partnership with SpaceX, which will provide launch and crew transport
• If successful, Haven-1 will mark a major milestone in the transition from government-led to privately-operated space infrastructure
🔭 The context: The International Space Station (ISS), continuously inhabited since 2000, is scheduled for deorbit by 2030
• NASA is preparing for a post-ISS era by supporting private sector-led space station development
• Vast Space is one of several firms — alongside Blue Origin, Axiom Space, and Starlab — vying to fill the void
• Haven-1 is designed for a three-year mission, supporting four short-duration crewed missions as a precursor to more ambitious projects
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Private space stations open new avenues for orbital research, microgravity manufacturing, and international cooperation — particularly for emerging space nations
• By enabling pharmaceutical research and semiconductor production in microgravity, platforms like Haven-1 could accelerate sustainable innovation on Earth
• However, the high cost and operational risks underscore the challenge of turning orbital habitats into commercially viable ventures
⏭️ What's next: Vast is finalising construction of Haven-1 ahead of its planned April 2026 pre-launch operations
• The crew, to be announced soon, will likely include astronauts from smaller national space agencies and private individuals
• Vast has already completed critical structural tests and partnered with Redwire Space for onboard research
• The outcome of the mission will influence its bid in NASA’s upcoming competition to select a long-term ISS successor
💬 One quote: “Our number one priority is to become an actual space station company... that has sent people to [orbit] and brought them back safely to Earth,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast Space
📈 One stat: The ISS currently costs approximately $12 million per day to operate; future commercial stations must lower that to between $2.7–5.5 million daily to remain economically viable
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