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 is testing different drug formulations to benefit from microgravity conditions.
Varda plans to begin launching two spacecraft simultaneously starting in 2024.
Strong demand for Varda's services is due to its demonstrated reliable reentry service and companies looking for alternatives to the ISS ahead of its decommissioning next year.
Varda's cadence targets will require automation to manage a larger fleet of spacecraft with fewer employees.
Varda expects to achieve a monthly launch cadence in under two years.
This partnership is the first example of a collaboration between Varda and a company that has flown NASA-funded experiments on the International Space Station.
Varda and United Semiconductors have announced a multi-flight joint development agreement to produce semiconductors in orbit for use on Earth.
The 20 new missions will see Varda’s in-space manufacturing capsules return to Earth with payloads that have created novel pharmaceuticals in orbit or conducted experiments in microgravity.
Southern Launch and Varda Space Industries have signed an agreement to facilitate 20 additional spacecraft returns at the Koonibba Test Range through 2028.
The agreement will secure landing space for Varda's future missions, which are planned to increase to a near-monthly cadence by the end of 2028.
Southern Launch and Varda will continue to collaborate on the W-Series missions, including the W-4 and W-5 missions scheduled for re-entry at the Koonibba Test Range by the end of this year.
Varda Chief Revenue Officer Eric Lasker emphasized that their partnership with Southern Launch is crucial for realizing the new economy of off-Earth production.
Varda Space and Southern Launch have extended their partnership for 20 reentries into the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia through 2028.
Varda Space and Southern Launch announced an agreement for 20 additional landings of Varda’s capsule at Southern Launch’s range.
Varda Space Industries, LeoLabs, and Anduril conducted a successful joint demonstration to track, monitor, and report orbital maneuvers in advance of a hypersonic reentry.
Will Bruey of Varda emphasized the importance of regular and rigorous component and systems testing for defense modernization.
Varda is developing a re-entry capsule to return samples from orbital experiments.
Varda Space Industries, LeoLabs, and Anduril successfully demonstrated tracking and reporting capabilities of a re-entry capsule on September 8, 2025.
InterSpace Explore's Xingshi recovery capsule aims to avoid issues similar to those experienced by Varda.
Varda’s second mission is scheduled to launch in 2025-01-01 with in-space operations and reentry positioning maneuvers followed by deorbit over Australia and a landing at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia.