PREVIEW

The world's first private space station has been unveiled. Dubbed Haven-1, its design is far more modern and spacious than the International Space Station.

Haven-1's interior resembles a luxury hotel with sleek wood veneer accents and soft padded white walls. Inside there's also a gym, and private rooms equipped with communication technology for staying in touch with loved ones back on Earth. Each of the four private quarters features built-in storage, a vanity, and a custom amenities kit.

Beyond aesthetics, the creators Vast have prioritised improving sleep in space - often a challenge for astronauts due to weightlessness. The signature sleep system they developed is about the size of a queen-size bed and offers a customised pressure distribution that adapts to side or back sleepers.

At the station's core is a common area featuring a deployable table and a domed window for breathtaking views of space. Images released so far are mock-ups, but final designs are expected to resemble these visions closely. Vast anticipates the station could welcome its first visitors as early as 2026, with plans to launch it on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket "no earlier than August 2025".

Despite the luxurious feel, Haven-1 is designed to host "state-of-the-art facilities for scientific research".