December 20, 2024 6:19 AM | 2 min read See Also: Astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore’s Return From ISS Further Delayed: Now Expected No Earlier Than Late March Vast is participating in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination program with its Haven-2 design, which could be operational by 2028. While NASA has not yet approved Vast’s planned missions, SpaceX expressed readiness to proceed once approval is granted. SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell expressed enthusiasm for working with Vast to expand space travel opportunities. "I am excited to work with Vast as they build more opportunities and destinations for more people to travel amongst the stars." Why It Matters: The partnership between SpaceX and Vast Space comes at a time when the Musk-led startup is making significant strides in space exploration. Recently, SpaceX’s Starship was selected by Lunar Outpost to deliver its new moon rover, Eagle, to the lunar surface following a successful suborbital test flight. This highlights SpaceX’s growing role in lunar exploration. SpaceX has also been selected to launch NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, in 2028, further cementing its position as a key player in space exploration. This mission, priced at approximately $256.6 million, will utilize the Falcon Heavy rocket, showcasing SpaceX’s diverse capabilities in launching complex space missions. However, it hasn't been all smooth sailing for NASA, on the other hand. The agency's plans for the Artemis missions have faced delays, with the Artemis 3 mission now slated for mid-2027. Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link. Read Next: