Axiom Space sued Vast Space in federal court in Houston on June 19, alleging that Vast submitted a fraudulent mission-planning document to NASA that incorporated Axiom's proprietary information. According to Axiom's False Claims Act complaint, NASA notified Axiom on June 3 that its sensitive information had appeared in Vast's submission for a private astronaut mission.
The lawsuit alleges that Vast's Mission Integration and Operations Management Plan contained text that still bore Axiom's name and company details in some places, while other sections substituted the generic term "the PAM Provider" for Axiom's name. Axiom said this pattern demonstrated the document originated with Axiom and was not independently authored by Vast.
Vast denies the accusations. The company stated that a subcontractor provided the mission-planning document in the normal course of business, using standard documentation adapted from prior missions. Vast said it proactively informed NASA within a day of submission that the document needed correction and resubmitted a revised version the next day.
The lawsuit emerges as both companies compete for NASA contracts to develop private space stations for the 2030s. Final proposals are due to NASA on December 14. Axiom has won contracts for the first five private astronaut missions, while Vast won the sixth mission in February.
The False Claims Act case seeks civil penalties, treble damages, litigation costs, and a whistleblower award. The Department of Justice declined to intervene in the case on October 23. Axiom said the government's non-intervention does not mean what happened was acceptable, while Vast said the decision reflects the merits of the case.