Regulatory Approval Granted

Space startup Varda has received long-awaited approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to bring its first spacecraft back to Earth. Varda’s small W-Series 1 capsule, also known as W-1, has been stuck in orbit for the past eight months. The company has been eagerly awaiting regulatory authorization to attempt a landing in Utah, specifically at the Air Force’s Utah Test and Training Range. The FAA finally confirmed on Wednesday that it has issued the necessary license, providing Varda with the green light.

Innovative Mission Set for February 21

The FAA’s approval sets the stage for Varda’s W-1 mission to attempt its landing back on Earth on February 21. The businesses expressed their excitement, stating, “We are incredibly proud to have this opportunity with our government partners and appreciate their dedication to safe innovation in the United States.”

Varda’s W-1 mission serves as a demonstration of the company’s cutting-edge automated in-space manufacturing process. In the previous year, the production successfully yielded the drug Ritonavir, showcasing the potential of manufacturing pharmaceuticals in a weightless environment. By moving beyond the common practices of manufacturing in space, Varda is determined to revolutionize the industry, aiming to launch and retrieve space-made products more efficiently.

Varda’s ingenious system extensively utilizes Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft as their operational foundation. Accompanied by a manufacturing module, along with a heatshield-protected capsule to endure the rigorous process of reentry through Earth’s atmosphere, Varda nurtures an environment primed for innovation.

Unleashing Future Possibilities

Varda’s venture into manufacturing materials such as fiber optic cables, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors in space presents a host of distinct advantages. The weightless environment within space unlocks the potential for accelerated production, resulting in superior qualities and enhanced market value of products. The company estimates the W-1 mission will successfully return with a few kilograms of manufactured material, further reinforcing their commitment to space manufacturing.