Vast has raised $500 million in a funding round led by Balerion Space Ventures to accelerate development of its Haven commercial space stations and support efforts to sustain long-term human presence in low Earth orbit.
Recent investment activity in the commercial space sector, including Vast’s latest financing round, underscores continued momentum among companies developing next-generation space infrastructure. Such developments reflect the dynamic environment shaping today’s air and space ecosystem. Sign up now for the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30 and be part of the conversation.
The Long Beach, California-based company said Thursday the financing includes $300 million in Series A equity and $200 million in debt.
“This investment underscores the market’s strong conviction in both our strategy and our engineering,” said Vast CEO Max Haot. “The low-Earth orbit economy is at a pivotal inflection point, poised for rapid growth. Vast’s Haven stations are engineered to deliver safe, cost-effective access to microgravity research and in-space manufacturing, empowering government and commercial partners to unlock the full commercial promise of this next era for space.”
What Is the Purpose of Vast’s Financing Round?
Vast plans to use the funding to grow its workforce, expand facilities and advance the development of Haven-2, a proposed platform designed to help replace the International Space Station as it approaches retirement.
Founded in 2021, the company is developing a series of space stations intended to support microgravity research, in-space manufacturing and other activities as governments and private organizations expand operations in LEO. Vast said it plans to launch its space station, Haven-1, in 2027.
Vast is preparing for a private astronaut mission with NASA and pursuing the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations Phase 2 program, which seeks commercial successors to ISS. The company aims to establish continuous human presence in orbit by 2030 through additional Haven modules and future platforms.
The company said more than $1 billion has been invested in its technologies and facilities to date.
Who Are the Participating Investors?
The Balerion-led financing round includes several investors, including IQT, Qatar Investment Authority, Mitsui & Co., MUFG, Nikon, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital and Earthrise Ventures.
Jed McCaleb, founder of Vast and an entrepreneur, also participated in the round.
Who Is the Latest Addition to Vast’s Board?
As part of the investment, A.C. Charania, an adviser at Balerion Space Ventures and former chief technologist at NASA, will join Vast’s board of directors.
Charania said Vast is the only operational commercial space station company to design, build and fly its own spacecraft, Haven Demo, which completed its mission in February. He noted that the mission helped reduce technical risk by testing technologies planned for the Haven-1 station.
“Haven stations will play a critical role in sustaining a continuous human presence in orbit and the LEO economy while providing nations around the world the opportunity to strengthen leadership in space,” Charania added.
