Vast creates special programs division, names ex-Slingshot CEO to lead it
Vast · Slingshot Aerospace
Vast hired ex-Slingshot Aerospace CEO Melanie Stricklan to lead a new division chasing national security work.
what happened
Vast, the commercial space station developer, announced July 22 that it has created a Special Programs division to pursue US defense and intelligence business, naming Melanie Stricklan as senior vice president to lead it, per the company's own release and SpaceNews. Stricklan co-founded and previously led space domain awareness company Slingshot Aerospace and served 21 years in the US Air Force; Vast CEO Max Haot said she is joining 'at a pivotal moment' as the company develops in-house technologies for defense and intelligence customers.
why it matters
Vast has built its public identity around the commercial Haven-1 and Haven-2 space stations; a dedicated national-security division signals it is chasing the same government revenue that has drawn other station and satellite-bus builders toward defense contracts as that market has grown more competitive.
for who
Government space business-development teams, competing station and bus builders
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- Vast, Slingshot Aerospace
- Category
- product
- Impact
- notable
- SNR
- 5 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-07-22
- Published
- 2026-07-22 17:36 UTC