Science & Tech · Space · 1 hr ago
Varda plans to expand its in-space manufacturing missions
Varda Space Industries has two spacecraft in orbit after they launched together on a SpaceX rideshare mission on Oct.
1.
The Los Angeles-area company says this was the first time two commercial reentry vehicles launched to orbit at once.
Its spacecraft are designed as mini-factories that can make goods such as pharmaceuticals in orbit and bring them back to Earth.
Varda expects to launch a third vehicle later this month, and says all three are due to return before Christmas to a test range in South Australia.
The company plans seven more missions in 2027 as it shifts from occasional flights toward operating a fleet.
Varda has raised $251 million and plans to hire 100 people by the end of 2027 to support the expansion.
Its longer-term goal is daily flights, but a possible rocket shortage from about 2029 could make that harder.
Varda Space Industries is operating two spacecraft in orbit after they launched together on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission on Oct. 1, 2026.
The company expects another spacecraft to launch later in October and plans seven more missions in 2027.
Varda’s spacecraft are designed to manufacture goods such as pharmaceuticals in orbit and return them to Earth.
The company raised $251 million in Series D funding in September and plans to hire 100 people by the end of 2027.
Varda says its long-term goal is to fly spacecraft daily, but an anticipated rocket shortage beginning around 2029 could pose a challenge.
- Who
- Varda Space Industries, a Los Angeles-area space company.
- What
- It is expanding its in-space manufacturing and reentry missions, with seven more planned for 2027.
- When
- Two spacecraft launched on Oct. 1, 2026; another was expected later that month.
- Where
- The spacecraft are in orbit; planned returns are to the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia.
- Why
- Varda aims to scale regular missions that manufacture goods in orbit and return them to Earth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Varda announced it had raised $251 million in Series D funding.
Varda’s W-8 and W-9 spacecraft launched together on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission.
CEO Will Bruey spoke to Space.com about the launch.
A third Varda spacecraft was scheduled to launch.
Varda plans seven additional missions, with two in Q1, two in Q2 and three in Q3.
- Spacecraft in orbit
- 2
- Transporter-18 launch date
- Oct. 1, 2026
- Funding announced
- $251 million
- Planned 2027 missions
- 7
- Planned hires by end of 2027
- 100
- Current employee base
- 286
What people are saying
It's humanity's first time launching multiple commercial reentry vehicles simultaneously
As we scale up, we care about our ability to fly and fly regularly
It is, first and foremost, taking that unique [spacecraft] technology and moving into a fleet mentality, rather than a space mission mentality.
Sources
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