Varda and Rocket Lab Partner for In-Space Manufacturing

Varda Space Industries Accelerates Development with Rocket Lab Partnership

Varda Space Industries, a nascent orbital manufacturing company, is progressing rapidly in its development. Following a recent $42 million Series A funding announcement, Varda has established an agreement with Rocket Lab for the provision of three Photon spacecraft to facilitate the startup’s initial space missions.

Spacecraft Delivery Schedule

The initial Photon spacecraft is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2023. Subsequent spacecraft will follow later in the same year, with a third delivery anticipated in 2024. This represents an ambitious timeline for Varda, which was founded only eight months ago, and will encompass the company’s inaugural three manufacturing missions conducted in space.

An option for Varda to procure a fourth Photon spacecraft is also included within the contract.

Leveraging Established Expertise

Collaboration with a well-established entity is a strategic move, particularly given the proven capabilities of the Photon spacecraft. These capabilities include a NASA-funded mission destined for the moon later this year.

Rocket Lab has also been awarded a subcontract from the University of California Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory. This subcontract involves the design of two Photon spacecraft for a year-long mission to Mars.

The Promise of Microgravity Manufacturing

Founded by Will Bruey, a veteran of SpaceX, and Delian Asparouhov, a principal at Founders Fund, Varda is heavily invested in the unique manufacturing opportunities presented by microgravity. The company believes a substantial market exists for products like bioprinted organs, specialized semiconductors, fiber-optic cables, and pharmaceuticals.

These are items that are difficult or impossible to produce under Earth-based conditions, potentially justifying the costs associated with spacecraft construction and space launch.

Modular Space Factories

Under the terms of this agreement, each Photon spacecraft will be equipped with two modules developed by Varda. The first module will serve as the microgravity manufacturing facility, where the actual production process will occur.

The second module will be a reentry capsule, engineered to safely return the manufactured products to Earth. Delian Asparouhov stated that the reentry modules are being designed to accommodate “on the order of 40-60 kilograms of materials” during the initial missions, with plans for rapid scaling in subsequent launches.

A Pragmatic, Incremental Approach

Varda emphasizes a low-risk, incremental strategy. “This approach is garnering significant interest from the investment community, the Department of Defense, NASA, and others,” Asparouhov explained. “We aim to demonstrate the viability of the first space factory.”

“While scaling will eventually allow for larger facilities, potentially reaching the size of the International Space Station or even ten times its size, our initial focus is on a small, near-term, and pragmatic implementation.”

Mission Duration

According to a statement released by Rocket Lab, each mission is anticipated to last approximately three months, encompassing the period from launch to landing.