NEWS

Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Teru Aruga, hereinafter referred to as JAMSS) has signed an agreement with Vast , to become the payload partner for the world's first commercial space station “Haven-1”*1, on Mar 24, 2025. JAMSS will install its own payload and start providing utilization services , which plays a crucial role as Asia's first payload partner in accelerating the commercialization of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) market.

left:Max Hoat, CEO, Vast right:Teru Aguga, President, JAMSS ©Vast

Since its establishment, JAMSS has supported the operation and utilization of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" on the International Space Station (ISS) together with JAXA. With the planned retirement of the ISS around 2030, LEO is transitioning from a government-led domain to a private sector-led economic domain. In this transformation, JAMSS is strengthening our efforts to expand commercial utilization by leveraging the technology developed through the ISS.

JAMSS has been providing utilization services with "Kirara"*2 in ISS, which was developed by JAMSS for the protein crystal growth. JAMSS will develop its own payload on "Haven-1" and aim to expand the utilization services provided by JAMSS, further promoting commercial use.

©ESA/NASA

The payload currently being developed by JAMSS has a space for 1U-size sub payloads (1U: 10cm x 10cm x 10cm) to promote various utilization, providing a wide range of opportunities, from crystal growth services like Kirara to memorial items launch to make space more accessible.

In the United States, the seamless transition from ISS to commercial space stations is being discussed and planned, led by NASA. After the retirement of ISS, commercial space stations are expected to contribute to fields such as drug discovery and space manufacturing as new platforms. As the payload partner for the world's first private space station, from the viewpoint of the private sector, JAMSS aims to provide more flexible and speedy utilization services than ever before, and maximize the value of space utilization by realizing various needs.

*1 Haven-1: The world's first commercial space station developed by Vast. It is scheduled to launch in May 2026. Payload partners include Redwire, a global leader in microgravity research and development technology, and Yuri, a European commercial service provider.

©Vast

*2 Kirara: A protein crystal growth device. It is installed in the Ice Cubes Facility of the European module on the ISS by the European company, Space Applications Services and provides protein crystal growth services.
https://www.jamss.co.jp/space_utilization/kirara/

JAMSS: JAMSS is engaged in operations, utilization, training, and safety-related work for the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" on the ISS. As space is now becoming a new economic zone for private sectors, JAMSS is also advancing the provision of utilization services with the protein crystal growth device "Kirara" as a private company, contributing widely to the expansion of LEO utilization as a bridge between Earth and space. For more details, visit jamss.co.jp
Contact：https://www.jamss.co.jp/contact_service/

Vast: Founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, Vast is developing humanity’s next-generation space stations and pioneering the path to long-term living and thriving in space. Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station, is currently in development and is expected to launch in May 2026. Vast is also developing Haven-2, the proposed successor to the International Space Station (ISS), designed to serve NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program as a micro-gravity laboratory in space. Vast’s long-term ambition is to create artificial gravity habitations that enable humans to live in space, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a spacefaring future for all.