Varda Space Industries is an American space research company that focuses on in-space manufacturing and hypersonic Earth re-entry logistics. They design, build, and fly spacecraft to process pharmaceuticals in microgravity, returning the products to Earth via their W-Series re-entry capsules. Varda partners with organizations like Rocket Lab, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), NASA, and SSPC Research Ireland, and utilizes launch services from SpaceX.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Varda Space plans to launch its second and third spacecraft by the end of 2024 using an iterative approach based on lessons from previous missions.
Varda Space estimated a 50% chance of signing a customer contract for the first mission’s produced material within the next six months.
Varda Space purchased three Photon satellite buses from Rocket Lab in August 2022 but did not choose Rocket Lab’s Electron for the initial launch.
Varda Space will launch its first spacecraft on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in early 2023 to demonstrate production of materials in microgravity.
Varda Space Industries signed a Launch Services Agreement with SpaceX to launch its initial space factory aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission to LEO in 2023-01-01.
Varda Space has raised more than $53,000,000 to date.
Varda Space announced a $42,000,000 Series A round in July 2022 led by Khosla Ventures and Caffeinated Capital.
Varda Space Industries plans to launch its first space factory in 2023-01-01 and to launch second and third space factories through 2024.
Varda Space Industries raised a $42,000,000 Series A round on 2021-07-28 led by Khosla Ventures and Caffeinated Capital.
All three Photon spacecraft for Varda will incorporate Rocket Lab-designed and built components including radios, reaction wheels, and star trackers.
Rocket Lab has signed a deal with Varda Space Industries to produce three Photon spacecraft that will integrate with Varda’s space factories and support in-space manufacturing with return to Earth in Varda’s re-entry capsule.
Rocket Lab will build and launch three Photon spacecraft for Varda Space Industries to serve as platforms for Varda’s space manufacturing hardware.
Varda Space Industries will develop 120-kilogram space factories that include a return capsule to bring manufactured products back to Earth after a three-month mission.
The first Varda Photon is planned for delivery in 2023-01-01, the second Photon is planned for later in 2023, and the third Photon is planned for 2024.
Varda Space Industries has raised $53,000,000 in total funding to date.