Commercial Stations

ISS retires 2030

The ISS gave astronauts 3-25 Mbps via remote desktop. Commercial stations are promising gigabit broadband, Starlink connectivity, and orbital data centers. Here's what's actually being built.

Commercial Space Stations Compared

Four stations racing to replace the ISS. Each takes a different approach to connectivity.

Station Lead Launch Crew Internet Bandwidth Status
Haven-1 Vast Q1 2027 4 Starlink laser (confirmed) 1 Gbps Integration
Axiom Station Axiom Space 2027-28 4-8 Kepler/Skyloom optical 2.5 Gbps (10-100 roadmap) Hardware production
Starlab Voyager/Airbus 2028-29 4 (8 max) Optical laser (demo phase) TBD Passed CCDR
Orbital Reef Blue Origin / Sierra TBD TBD Not disclosed Not disclosed Behind schedule
For comparison: the ISS delivers 600 Mbps total (3-25 Mbps per crew member) via NASA's TDRS relay. See ISS internet details →

Haven-1: First Starlink Space Station

Vast's Haven-1 will be the first commercial space station connected via Starlink. Four laser inter-satellite link terminals provide up to 1 Gbps. Crew can use personal devices - laptops, iPads, iPhones - for video calls, livestreams, and entertainment. 20 cameras also share the bandwidth.

The Haven Demo pathfinder mission launched November 2025, completed 49 test objectives, and was successfully deorbited February 2026. Vast is the first commercial station company to design, build, fly, operate, and deorbit a spacecraft.

Diameter 4.4 m
Habitable volume 45 m3
Mission duration Up to 30 days
Lifespan 3 years, 4 missions
Launch vehicle SpaceX Falcon 9

Axiom: Orbital Data Centers

Axiom isn't just building a space station - they're building data centers in orbit. The first two ODC nodes launched in January 2026, achieving 2.5 Gbps optical links. They process AI/ML workloads, store satellite data, and serve national security customers.

Why Space Stations Need Gigabit Internet

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Space tourism

$50M+ per seat. Customers expect video calls, social media, and Netflix. The ISS's remote desktop approach won't cut it.

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Research data

Advanced experiments generate massive datasets. Starlab calls data "the most valuable research product" of the station.

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Orbital computing

Axiom's ODC processes AI/ML workloads in orbit. The business model requires high-bandwidth optical links.

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National security

Military and intelligence customers need secure, high-throughput data processing in orbit. Axiom explicitly targets this market.

The ISS clock is ticking

NASA plans ISS operations through end of 2030, with controlled deorbit in January 2031. SpaceX won the $843M deorbit vehicle contract. At least one commercial station must be operational before then to avoid a gap in US human presence in LEO. NASA's Phase 2 CLD award (selecting and certifying commercial destinations) is planned for mid-2026.

China's Tiangong is already operational. See Tiangong →

Related

ISS Internet

The station these are replacing

Tiangong Internet

China's operational alternative

Starlink

The provider powering Haven-1

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the ISS be retired?
NASA plans to operate the ISS through the end of 2030, with a controlled deorbit in January 2031 at Point Nemo in the South Pacific. SpaceX won the $843 million contract to build the US Deorbit Vehicle. There is a Senate push to extend to September 2032 to avoid a gap in US human presence in LEO before commercial stations are ready.
Will Vast Haven-1 really have Starlink?
Yes, confirmed. Vast announced in April 2024 that Haven-1 will have four Starlink laser inter-satellite link terminals, making it the world's first commercial space station connected via Starlink. CEO Max Haot stated the system will deliver up to 1 Gbps. Crew members will be able to use personal devices (laptops, iPads, iPhones) for video calls, livestreams, and entertainment.
What is Axiom's orbital data center?
Axiom Space is building actual compute nodes in orbit. The first two ODC (Orbital Data Center) nodes launched to LEO in January 2026 within Kepler Communications' Tranche 1 relay network, achieving 2.5 Gbps optical links. The system processes AI/ML workloads, stores satellite data, and supports national security customers. The roadmap targets 10 Gbps near-term and up to 100 Gbps via next-gen optical networks.
Which commercial station will launch first?
Vast Haven-1 is the most likely to launch first, currently targeting Q1 2027 after delays from the original May 2026 date. Axiom's first module (AxPPTM) targets 2027, attaching to ISS initially before becoming free-flying. Starlab targets 2028-2029 on a SpaceX Starship. Orbital Reef (Blue Origin/Sierra Space) is significantly behind with no firm launch date.
Why do commercial space stations need gigabit internet?
Four reasons: (1) Space tourism - paying customers ($50M+ per seat) expect video calls, social media, and entertainment. (2) Research data - advanced experiments generate massive datasets. (3) Orbital data centers - Axiom is processing AI/ML workloads in orbit. (4) National security - military customers need secure high-throughput data processing. The ISS's 3-25 Mbps per crew member via remote desktop is not acceptable for commercial customers.

Sources

  1. Vast - Haven-1 Starlink Announcement - accessed 2026-03-25
  2. SpaceNews - Vast to use Starlink for broadband - accessed 2026-03-25
  3. Payload Space - Vast Delays Haven-1 to 2027 - accessed 2026-03-25
  4. Vast - Haven Demo Mission Complete - accessed 2026-03-25
  5. Axiom Space - Orbital Data Center - accessed 2026-03-25
  6. Axiom Space - Accelerated Station Assembly - accessed 2026-03-25
  7. Starlab Space - CCDR Completion - accessed 2026-03-25
  8. Space Scout - Commercial Stations 2025 - accessed 2026-03-25
  9. NASA - ISS Transition Plan - accessed 2026-03-25
  10. NASA - SpaceX Deorbit Vehicle - accessed 2026-03-25
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