Vast x Explorers Club Grant

The Vast x Explorers Club Grant is a joint initiative designed to support innovative research that advances human presence in space. This grant represents a collaboration between Vast—a private space infrastructure company—and The Explorers Club, an organization long committed to scientific discovery. Together, they aim to enable the work of scientists, engineers, technologists, and explorers who are helping humanity prepare for living, working, and thriving beyond Earth. This opportunity is part of a broader movement toward developing sustainable space habitats and enhancing our understanding of how humans adapt to extraterrestrial environments. Vast is at the forefront of next-generation space station development, with a clear mission to ensure continuous human presence in space for the United States and its allies. With over 1,000 employees based in Long Beach, California, and more than a billion dollars in private capital invested, Vast has demonstrated its capabilities through projects such as the Haven Demo in 2025, making it the first commercial space station company to operate its own spacecraft. Their ambitious roadmap includes launching Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, in 2026, followed by a series of modules aimed at permanent space habitation by 2030. These platforms are envisioned to support microgravity research, manufacturing, and long-duration crewed missions, thereby contributing to a growing space economy. The grant focuses on research that contributes directly to the challenges and opportunities associated with long-term space habitation. Priority research areas include human life-support systems, closed-loop ecological or biological systems, advanced materials or technologies for habitat construction, space medicine and performance, radiation protection, and the psychological aspects of long-duration isolation. Proposals that investigate these topics are highly encouraged, especially those offering novel approaches or addressing unresolved technical barriers to safe and sustainable human activity in space. Applicants may come from any discipline relevant to space science or human adaptation beyond Earth, and both early-career and established professionals are welcome. Applicants must be actively leading or supporting a project with clear deliverables and measurable outcomes. While early-career researchers are eligible, they must also submit an endorsement from a mentor or senior collaborator. Eligible projects may be either field- or lab-based and may use the grant to expand data collection within ongoing efforts. The grant does not fund spaceflight for personnel or equipment, focusing instead on ground-based or analog research. Each awarded grant will provide between $20,000 and $25,000 to selected recipients. Applications must be submitted by February 15, 2026, and award announcements are expected by mid-April. While no pre-application process is required, applicants are expected to submit fully developed proposals with defined scope, budget, and implementation plans. Selection criteria include scientific merit, relevance to human space exploration, feasibility, innovation, and the potential impact on future missions or research efforts. Reviewers will also assess the applicant’s ability to execute the project, considering institutional support, team qualifications, and prior experience. The program is designed to operate as a non-recurring opportunity with a single application window. It offers a unique chance for researchers at various stages of their careers to contribute meaningful insights and technologies that could shape the future of space habitation. Through this initiative, Vast and The Explorers Club aim to accelerate progress toward a sustainable human future in space.