Former Ripple Founder McCaleb Liquidates $1 Billion in XRP, Collaborates with Musk’s SpaceX to Explore Space Frontiers
From Cryptocurrency to Space: McCaleb Invests $1 Billion to Pioneer Humanity’s Future
Jed McCaleb, co-founder of Stellar and Ripple, has previously liquidated over $2 billion by selling XRP. Following this, McCaleb set his sights on the space battlefield, investing $1 billion to establish the space company Vast. In an interview with Bloomberg on April 1, he stated that Vast aims to launch its first private space station, Haven-1, into space by 2026 and secure contracts from NASA, the largest investor in the space sector. Additionally, he plans to collaborate with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch space capsules, with hopes of participating in Mars missions in the future.
McCaleb’s Leap from Crypto to Space
After exiting the cryptocurrency market following the sale of approximately $2 billion worth of XRP, McCaleb founded the space company Vast to challenge the limits of human capability, focusing on sending humans to live in space at a lower cost.
Vast currently employs 650 people, adding 10 new hires each week, with over 70% in engineering and manufacturing.
McCaleb dedicates more than half of his net worth to Vast.
Haven-1 Project: Launching the First Space Station by 2026 at Five Times Faster and Cheaper
Vast’s primary goal is to launch its first space station, Haven-1, before May 2026 and participate in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development bidding process. This initiative aims to replace the International Space Station (ISS), which is set to be decommissioned by 2030, with the winning bidder receiving a long-term contract from NASA.
Vast’s strategy is quite aggressive: “As long as I get there first, NASA won’t be able to deny me the contract.”
Haven-2 Expansion Plans for 2028 to Replace the ISS, Designed by Former Apple Designer
Vast not only plans Haven-1 but also intends to launch the first module of Haven-2 in 2028, gradually expanding it into a complete commercial space platform.
Exterior components of Haven-1
The overall design is being guided by Peter Russell-Clarke, a designer with 25 years of experience at Apple, emphasizing a minimalist style and practicality.
Three Spare Parts for Every Component, Racing Against Time Without Fear of Failure
During a visit to the Vast factory, reporters observed many large components, such as hatches, windows, and internal pressure vessels, as well as multi-layered shields to protect against micrometeoroid impacts. To save time, they manufacture three spare parts for every component, allowing for immediate replacements without interrupting the assembly process.
The hatch developed by Vast
From Acquiring Rocket Startups to Building Components: Vast’s Full Vertical Integration
Vast has also acquired a rocket manufacturer named Launcher and is following the model of SpaceX and Blue Origin to build its supply chain independently, avoiding reliance on third-party manufacturers. Components like specialized hatches for the space station, which are unavailable on the market, are being developed in-house.
Although two test satellites previously launched by Launcher encountered issues in space, Vast has chosen to continue building its own hardware.
Former NASA Astronaut Joins Forces, Optimistic About Vast’s Potential
Former NASA astronaut Drew Feustel has joined the Vast team as a technical advisor. He has firsthand experience from the Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions, providing him with deep insights into “how to live comfortably in space.”
Feustel is also leading the development of a sleep system that simulates Earth’s gravity, helping astronauts sleep better.
A reporter testing the new sleep system
Collaboration with Musk’s SpaceX, Future Participation in Mars Missions Expected
Vast has signed a launch contract with Musk’s SpaceX, utilizing the Falcon 9 to send its Haven-1 into orbit, with engineers on board for testing. The collaboration is close, with Vast expressing hopes of participating in Mars missions together in the future.
Illustration of Vast’s collaboration with SpaceX
Nasa to Select Winning Bidder in 2026, Vast Believes “Not Winning Means Not Surviving”
Other companies bidding for the NASA CLD contract include Axiom Space, Blue Origin, Voyager, and Vast, which candidly stated: “If we don’t secure the NASA contract, we have no market.” This highlights that even amidst a booming space industry, NASA remains the largest investor and endorser.
Vast aims to secure a NASA contract by 2026.
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