Vast Space Acquires Assets from Virgin Orbit

Space station developer Vast Space, through its subsidiary Launcher, acquired Virgin Orbit’s interest in sites and other assets at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California in a bankruptcy auction.

Orrick advised Vast and Launcher.

THE COMPANIES

Founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, Vast is developing humanity’s next-generation space stations and pioneering the path to long-term living and thriving in space. Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station, is currently in development. Vast is also developing Haven-2, the proposed successor to the International Space Station (ISS). Vast’s long-term ambition is to create artificial gravity habitations that enable humans to live in space, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a spacefaring future for all.

Launcher was acquired by Vast in February 2023. Launcher’s operations are now focused on developing the E-2 liquid rocket engine as a product available for sale to launch vehicle companies. E-2 is a LOX/Kerosene oxidizer-rich staged combustion engine that is expected to be the most efficient rocket engine for small launch vehicles.

THE IMPACT

Vast will use the Mojave facilities for its launch operations.

THE TEAM

The Orrick team was led by Laura Lariu, Evan Hollander and Spencer Cohen, and included Sojin Lillian Kim, Samantha Caluori, Nick Sabatino, Eric Wall, Kimberly M. Loocke, Shannon Yavorsky, Jennifer Criss, Jose Lamarque and Melissa Hall.