Vast Space Closes $500M Funding Round to Pursue NASA Space Station Contract

HEADLINE: Vast Space Closes $500M Funding Round to Pursue NASA Space Station Contract

LEAD: Vast Space has secured $500 million in new funding as the company pursues a Phase Two award from NASA for commercial space station services, according to CNBC Technology.

BODY: The funding positions Vast to compete for NASA contracts tied to the International Space Station. The company is employing what it describes as a "leapfrog strategy" in its bid for the Phase Two award—a competitive process that will determine which commercial operators gain access to ISS-related work.

For finance leaders tracking aerospace and defense investments, the round signals accelerating private capital deployment in commercial space infrastructure. NASA's shift toward commercial partnerships has created a new category of venture-backed space operators competing for government contracts.

WHAT'S NEXT: Watch for Phase Two award announcements from NASA, which will reveal whether Vast's funding and strategy translate into contract wins against other commercial space bidders.

The Ledger Signal | March 3, 2026