Nikon backs Vast to advance space manufacturing
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, announced that it has made an investment in Vast Inc, based in Long Beach, California, United States, through its NFocus Fund.
Vast designs, develops, manufactures and operates commercial space stations using a vertically integrated manufacturing approach. The company aims to provide the next-generation commercial space station to succeed the International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled for retirement in 2030.
In addition to the use of its cameras and lenses through its Imaging business, Nikon’s Advanced Manufacturing Business is actively developing applications for space-related parts created with its large-format high productivity metal Additive Manufacturing, such as rocket component production. In recognition of Nikon’s capabilities, Nikon Additive Manufacturing technology was selected for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Space Strategy Fund programme.
Nikon’s role in the programme is to establish metal Additive Manufacturing technologies that combine both Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED) methods for production of high-precision rocket components to support the global space industry. In recent months, Nikon (through its subsidiary, Nikon SLM Solutions) has also entered into a strategic partnership with ArianeGroup to advance ultra-large-scale AM for space applications and announced a memorandum of understanding with Rocket Lab to reserve multiple units of Nikon’s upcoming ultra-large format metal Additive Manufacturing machines.
Through this investment in Vast, Nikon intends to enhance its own AM technologies and support the advancement of the space industry
“Like Nikon, Vast is a technology-driven company, and we definitely see commonalities in our vision as well as exciting synergistic opportunities,” stated Hamid Zarringhalam, director, president and CEO of Nikon Ventures Corporation and Nikon Advanced Manufacturing. “Nikon is tremendously proud of our half-century of contributions to space science and exploration, and through this investment in Vast, as well as other programs across our Nikon imaging and AM businesses, we look forward to enabling transformative capabilities in space.”
Vast CEO Max Haot added, “Nikon’s legacy in precision imaging, advanced manufacturing, and space science is unmatched, and their long-term commitment to enabling breakthrough capabilities strongly resonates with our mission. We’re excited to work with Nikon to unlock the next era of commercial space that advances exploration and technological breakthroughs that benefit the world.”
Vast is developing next-generation space stations in an effort to ensure continuous human presence in space, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Currently, Vast is focusing on the multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success was said to have made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. The company anticipates that Haven-1 will become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030.
