In this episode of HELLO FUTURE, host Kevin Cirilli speaks with Max Haot, CEO of Vast, about the urgent need for commercially developed space stations as the International Space Station approaches retirement. 

Haot, who has been outspoken about NASA’s cost overruns and the need to refocus resources, explains why the current “riskiest period” in ISS operations demands real action now. With Vast’s Haven-1 already in integration and targeted for launch in 2027 as the world’s first commercial space station, the conversation explores the viability of private capital stepping up where government budgets are stretched. Vast recently unveiled its Large Docking Adapter — a new open-source standard designed for the next generation of larger space stations and crewed vehicles — which supports significantly higher mass, greater structural rigidity, and dramatically improved crew and cargo transfer capabilities while remaining compatible with existing docking systems.

Haot discusses what NASA would actually need to contribute versus the long-term returns to the country, how Vast is approaching safety and mission design differently, and why this hardware-rich, incremental approach gives the company confidence it can deliver continuous human presence in low Earth orbit by 2030 — even if NASA’s budget faces further pressure.

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