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.
The two Pioneer spacecraft delivered and completed are part of a four-vehicle contract between Rocket Lab and Varda Space Industries.
Rocket Lab designed, built, and tested the Pioneer spacecraft for Varda at its Spacecraft Production Complex in Long Beach, California.
Rocket Lab’s first Pioneer spacecraft developed for Varda launched in 2023 and spent eight months on orbit.
Varda Space Industries developed a factory-in-orbit spacecraft that is a compact, 120-kilogram satellite engineered to produce high-value materials such as pharmaceuticals in microgravity.
Varda completed its first successful demonstration in February 2024 when its W-1 spacecraft produced a batch of the antiretroviral drug ritonavir.
Varda Space Industries secured a $48,000,000 contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to test military payloads on Varda’s reentry capsules.
Varda’s W-1 capsule reentered Earth’s atmosphere at 18,0 m per hour before deploying a parachute to a precise landing site.
Varda’s factory-in-orbit spacecraft returns produced materials to Earth in a capsule that uses advanced thermal protection materials developed through a NASA partnership to withstand reentry.
Varda’s next mission, W-2, is scheduled for early 2025 and is designed to showcase the Varda Hypersonic Testbed vehicle.
The four-year deal with the Air Force Research Laboratory, dated 2024-11-26, leverages Varda’s W-Series reentry capsules as platforms to test payloads at hypersonic speeds.
Varda Space Industries launched its first spacecraft in June 2023 and did not obtain a reentry license for that spacecraft until February after months of effort and an earlier, rejected reentry license application.
Varda complied with all requirements in place to launch W-1 and its flight-proven reentry system safely and successfully landed at the Utah Test and Training Range after receiving a license.
Varda has raised $145,000,000 in total funding to date.
Varda completed a $90,000,000 Series B funding round led by Caffeinated Capital with participation from Lux Capital, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and Khosla Ventures.
Varda opened its office in 2021.
Varda’s next mission is scheduled to launch this summer using Varda’s capsule and a spacecraft bus built by Rocket Lab.
Varda Space Industries raised $90,000,000 in a Series B round led by venture firm Caffeinated Capital.
Varda Space Industries has raised $145,000,000 in funding to date.
Varda Space Industries, Inc., of El Segundo, California was awarded a contract to provide flight and payload integration services.
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Varda Space Industries, and World View Enterprises have also been awarded contracts.