Vast Wins ISS Private Astronaut Mission: Commercial Space Stations Are Coming | Taha Abbasi

Taha Abbasi analyzes Vast’s selection for an ISS private astronaut mission — advancing the transition from government to commercially-operated human habitation in orbit.

The Mission

Vast, founded by Jed McCaleb, won a contract to send private astronauts to the ISS. This follows Axiom Space’s multiple private missions. For Taha Abbasi, Vast’s selection signals the market expanding beyond a single provider — competition driving down costs and increasing access.

Why Commercial Stations Matter

The ISS, orbiting since 1998, is scheduled for deorbit ~2030. NASA plans transition to commercially operated stations. Vast develops Haven-1 (2026 launch), Axiom builds ISS-attached modules, Blue Origin/Sierra Space develop Orbital Reef, and Northrop Grumman builds for NASA’s CLD program.

Economics of Orbit

As Taha Abbasi emphasizes, commercial station viability depends on launch costs. With SpaceX Falcon 9 driving costs down and Starship promising another order-of-magnitude reduction, the economic case strengthens yearly.

Axiom’s $350M Raise

Axiom Space’s recent $350 million fundraise further validates the market. Multiple missions flown, modules in development, serious capital flowing. Taha Abbasi sees commercial stations as the next infrastructure layer — as foundational to the space economy as Superchargers to EVs.

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About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com