IWC Schaffhausen has partnered with VAST, the space habitation technology pioneer, as its "Official Timekeeper." This engineering alliance focuses on developing mechanical timepieces capable of withstanding both terrestrial demands and the extreme conditions of space.
VAST was established in 2021 by Jed McCaleb and the company develops next-generation space stations while pioneering sustainable space habitation. Haven-1, anticipated as the world's inaugural commercial space station, is under development with a projected 2026 launch. Set to become the world's first commercial space station, preceded by Haven Demo—an orbital testing platform for essential space station technologies. Haven-1 represents a cutting-edge, human-centered facility featuring an innovation laboratory for private astronauts and government missions alike. The station's crew will conduct scientific research, technology development, and in-space manufacturing through the Haven-1 Lab, advancing both terrestrial applications and long-term space exploration.
The partnership unites two organizations driven by scientific innovation. Both VAST and IWC Schaffhausen pursue groundbreaking developments within their industries, making this collaboration a significant advancement in spaceflight-certified timekeeping. As VAST expands humanity's low-Earth orbit capabilities and opens new frontiers for space-based scientific advancement, the company is partnering with IWC to create timepieces that embody exploration and discovery.
"VAST and IWC Schaffhausen both share a passion for innovation driven by scientific progress. With our mutual passion for bold invention in our respective industries, this collaboration will be a historic milestone in the evolution of spaceflight-ready timepieces. As VAST advances humanity's presence in low-Earth orbit and unlocks a new era of scientific progress in space, we're excited to collaborate with IWC on timepieces that capture this ethos of exploration and discovery," said Max Haot, CEO of Vast.
"Our collaboration with Vast is a natural evolution of our heritage in aviation, which began almost a century ago. We are excited to continue this journey as Vast's Official Timekeeper and look forward to exploring new frontiers together. This collaboration will enable IWC Schaffhausen to intensify its research and development efforts for watches that are tested for spaceflight. During future, long-duration space missions, a mechanical watch showing Earth time can also be the object that emotionally connects the astronauts to their home," commented Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
Building on IWC's participation in the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn commercial spaceflight missions, this strategic engineering partnership enables continued innovation in spaceflight-ready timepieces. At VAST's facilities, engineers will subject IWC prototypes to simulated launch vibrations and assess material compatibility with Haven-1. These prototypes undergo testing protocols similar to hardware destined for Haven Demo and Haven-1 missions, demonstrating IWC's authentic aerospace credentials.
This collaboration represents VAST's first brand partnership and highlights the commercial potential within low-Earth orbit operations.
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