Nikon Invests in Vast Space — Backing the Commercial Space Station Startup That's Betting Big on 3D Printing

Nikon's Latest Bet on Space

Nikon has invested in Vast Space through its NFocus Fund, backing the ambitious startup that's working to build the world's first commercial space station. The investment was announced as Vast continues to develop its Haven-1 station and plans for much larger facilities.

"Like Nikon, Vast is a technology-driven company, and we definitely see commonalities in our vision as well as exciting synergistic opportunities," said Hamid Zarringhalam, Director, President, and CEO of Nikon Ventures Corporation and Nikon Advanced Manufacturing. "We look forward to enabling transformative capabilities in space."

A Cluster of Space AM in Long Beach

Vast's headquarters in Long Beach, California, puts it in a cluster of leading space, aerospace, defense, and new space firms that extensively use additive manufacturing. Nikon has significant operations nearby in Long Beach and El Segundo, making this investment both geographically and strategically logical.

The company acquired Launcher in 2023, which was an early adopter of Velo3D metal 3D printers. Launcher later purchased AMCM systems (a subsidiary of EOS) to build ever-larger rocket engines and space components. This acquisition added significant AM capabilities to Vast's team.

Building the Next Generation of Space Stations

Vast's mission is extraordinarily ambitious: building a 100-meter-long space station designed to house 40 people. The company has already launched its first station, Haven-1, and is working on extending capabilities.

CEO Max Haot stated: "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."

Nikon's Space Credentials

This isn't Nikon's first foray into space. The company has previously worked with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Space Strategy Fund program, and its SLM 3D printers power many space and space propulsion startups. Nikon has also partnered with ArianeGroup and Rocket Lab to bolster its space credentials.

The company is also reserving multiple units of its upcoming ultra-large-format metal AM platforms, which may be underpinned by Adira's Tiled Laser Melting (TLM) technology developed in partnership with Fraunhofer ILT. TLM could enable printing multiple-meter-long parts using LPBF without excessive argon and electricity consumption.

The Stakes Are High

Building commercial space stations is an extraordinarily complex undertaking. While ISS was built over decades by a consortium of nations, Vast aims to achieve similar goals independently. The company was founded by Jed McCaleb, whose cryptocurrency fortune (from Mt. Gox, Ripple, and Stellar) is estimated at $3.9 billion.

With Nikon's investment and AM expertise behind it, Vast is positioning itself as a major player in the future of commercial space stations — all built with significant contributions from additive manufacturing technology.