Commercial space station developer Vast has named the former president and chief executive of The Aerospace Corporation as a senior adviser. Steve Isakowitz joins the company as it prepares for the next phase of a NASA program aimed at fostering private orbital outposts.
Isakowitz brings decades of experience in aerospace leadership, having previously served as president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation and held senior roles at NASA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. His tenure included overseeing the agency's technology maturation and space policy initiatives.
Vast is developing a commercial space station intended to succeed the International Space Station. The company is positioning itself to compete for NASA's Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) program, which aims to procure services from private space stations after the ISS is retired.
The appointment signals Vast's strategic push to secure a role in NASA's next phase of the CLD initiative. Isakowitz's government and industry ties could help the company navigate the complex procurement process and regulatory landscape.
However, Vast faces stiff competition from established players like Axiom Space and Northrop Grumman, both of whom have already secured NASA development awards. The company has yet to publicly demonstrate a flight-ready hardware prototype, raising questions about its readiness to deliver on its ambitious timeline.