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.

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.&nbsp;
Haot, who has been outspoken about NASA&rsquo;s cost overruns and the need to refocus resources, explains why the current &ldquo;riskiest period&rdquo; in ISS operations demands real action now. With Vast&rsquo;s Haven-1 already in integration and targeted for launch in 2027 as the world&rsquo;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 &mdash; a new open-source standard designed for the next generation of larger space stations and crewed vehicles &mdash; 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 &mdash; even if NASA&rsquo;s budget faces further pressure.

HELLO, FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli is the daily podcast where tomorrow’s biggest questions come alive. Are aliens already visiting us? Could your next job be in space? What if satellites could find lost cities, or stop the next wildfire? What happens if America loses the space race… or if every satellite went dark tomorrow? From Mars to UFOs, from flying cars to “civilization starter kits,” each episode blends science, technology, and imagination with the real choices shaping our world. It’s smart, fast, and curious, built for anyone who’s ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what comes next. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the future, knocking on your door. 

Kevin Cirilli is the founder of meet the future™ (mtf.tv). Cirilli has advised some of the nation’s leading military nonprofit philanthropists and policymakers and he is an emerging playwright. As a journalist, he is the former Chief Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Radio, where he covered the White House, Congress, and global economic policy while anchoring a daily geopolitical business affairs program.

Before founding mtf.tv, Kevin appeared across nearly every major network — including CBS News, MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, C-SPAN, NPR, and Yahoo Finance — providing nonpartisan political and economic analysis and conducting exclusive interviews with some of the most influential figures of the 21st century. He was also a media fellow at the Atlantic Council in the Global China Hub.

He has reported from across the United States and around the world — including assignments in Israel, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia — covering pivotal moments in global affairs and the people driving change.

HELLO, FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli&nbsp;is the daily podcast where tomorrow&rsquo;s biggest questions come alive. Are aliens already visiting us? Could your next job be in space? What if satellites could find lost cities, or stop the next wildfire? What happens if America loses the space race&hellip; or if every satellite went dark tomorrow? From Mars to UFOs, from flying cars to &ldquo;civilization starter kits,&rdquo; each episode blends science, technology, and imagination with the real choices shaping our world. It&rsquo;s smart, fast, and curious, built for anyone who&rsquo;s ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what comes next. This isn&rsquo;t science fiction. It&rsquo;s the future, knocking on your door.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-cirilli-943b162a/">Kevin Cirilli</a>&nbsp;is the founder of meet the future&trade; (mtf.tv). Cirilli has advised some of the nation&rsquo;s leading military nonprofit philanthropists and policymakers and he is an emerging playwright. As a journalist, he is the former Chief Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Radio, where he covered the White House, Congress, and global economic policy while anchoring a daily geopolitical business affairs program.
Before founding mtf.tv, Kevin appeared across nearly every major network &mdash; including CBS News, MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, C-SPAN, NPR, and Yahoo Finance &mdash; providing nonpartisan political and economic analysis and conducting exclusive interviews with some of the most influential figures of the 21st century. He was also a media fellow at the Atlantic Council in the Global China Hub.
He has reported from across the United States and around the world &mdash; including assignments in Israel, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia &mdash; covering pivotal moments in global affairs and the people driving change.

HELLO FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli

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. 

HELLO FUTURE: Commercial Space Stations and America’s Next Chapter in Orbit

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/89083f88-75da-4614-a482-b44a00fd2341/transcript