'Vast' to Launch Crewed ISS Mission in 2027

Aerospace company Vast has announced plans to launch its first commercial crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in the summer of 2027, marking a major milestone in the growth of private spaceflight.

The company confirmed it has signed agreements with NASA to carry out the mission. The launch is scheduled to take place from Florida no earlier than summer 2027 and will be Vast’s first private astronaut mission conducted in partnership with NASA.

Under the plan, a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX will send a Dragon spacecraft into orbit with the crew selected by Vast. The astronauts are expected to spend about two weeks aboard the ISS before returning to Earth.

The flight will be NASA’s sixth private astronaut mission in collaboration with the commercial sector and the first for Vast under the agency’s commercial human spaceflight program.

NASA previously carried out similar missions with Axiom Space starting in 2022. The fifth commercial crewed mission organized by Axiom Space, Axiom-5, is currently scheduled for launch in 2027.

The announcement reflects NASA’s broader strategy of working with private companies to expand access to low-Earth orbit. As commercial partnerships continue to grow, missions like Vast’s highlight the increasing role of private industry in shaping the future of human space exploration.