Nikon announces investment in U.S.-based space-station maker Vast Inc.

Nikon Corp. announced it has made an investment in Vast Inc. (Vast), based in Long Beach, Calif., through the NFocus Fund. Vast is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and operation of commercial space stations utilizing a vertically integrated manufacturing approach. This innovative company aims to provide the next-generation commercial space station to succeed the International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled for retirement in 2030.

Vast announced it has raised $500 million in new funding. The financing round was led by Balerion Space Ventures with participation from IQT, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Mitsui & Co., Ltd, MUFG, Nikon, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital, and Earthrise Ventures. Jed McCaleb, founder and first investor, also participated in the round. As part of the transaction, Balerion Advisor A.C. Charania, former Chief Technologist for NASA, will join the Vast board.

In addition to these contributions to space science through the Imaging Business, Nikon’s Advanced Manufacturing Business is actively developing applications for space-related parts created with its large-format high productivity metal 3D printers, such as rocket component production. In recognition of Nikon’s highly developed capabilities, Nikon additive manufacturing (AM) technology was selected for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Space Strategy Fund program. Nikon’s role in this program is to establish metal 3D printing technologies that combine both laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) and directed energy deposition (DED) methods for production of high-precision rocket components to support the global space industry. In recent months, Nikon (through its subsidiary, Nikon SLM Solutions) has also entered into a strategic partnership with ArianeGroup to advance ultra-large-scale AM for space applications and announced a memorandum of understanding with Rocket Lab to reserve multiple units of Nikon’s upcoming ultra-large format metal AM platforms.

“Nikon’s legacy in precision imaging, advanced manufacturing, and space science is unmatched, and their long-term commitment to enabling breakthrough capabilities strongly resonates with our mission,” Vast CEO Max Haot added. “We’re excited to work with Nikon to unlock the next era of commercial space that advances exploration and technological breakthroughs that benefit the world.”

As Vast advances its goal is to support continuous crew operations by 2030, the company is working towards its next major milestones, including the launch of Haven-1 in 2027, conducting the private astronaut mission Vast recently won with NASA, and securing the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations Phase 2 bid to build its proposed successor to the International Space Station. Funded privately to date, Vast has rapidly established itself as a leader in space hardware design, manufacturing, testing, and operations since its founding in 2021. Recent engineering achievements include flying, operating, and deorbiting Haven Demo—an in-orbit testbed to prove out space station technologies—and the current integration of Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station.