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Rocket Lab USA<\/strong>, a launch and space systems company, announced its custom spacecraft for Varda Space Industries<\/strong>, an in-space manufacturing, and hypersonic reentry logistics company, successfully returned to Earth the world\u2019s first space manufacturing mission conducted outside of the International Space Station.<\/p>\n Rocket Lab conducted in-space operations, deorbit, and reentry positioning maneuvers for its spacecraft, enabling Varda\u2019s reentry capsule and payload of pharmaceutical crystals to return to Earth. With Rocket Lab\u2019s role in the mission complete, the Varda team then took over management of the capsule\u2019s hypersonic reentry, parachute deployment, and touchdown in the designated zone at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) near Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n The mission is a successful demonstration of Rocket Lab\u2019s end-to-end space systems solutions tailored to enable novel and innovative missions for a range of customers. Rocket Lab designed, manufactured, and operated a bespoke spacecraft to enable Varda\u2019s capsule manufacturing demonstration. The spacecraft included a full suite of Rocket Lab sub-systems and components built in-house, spanning the spacecraft engine, flight software, avionics, reaction wheels, star trackers, capsule dispenser, solar panels, radio, composite structures, tanks, and more.<\/p>\n While initially designed for a four-month lifespan in orbit, the mission timeline was more than doubled with Rocket Lab\u2019s spacecraft successfully providing power, communications, ground control, and attitude control to Varda\u2019s capsule on orbit for more than eight months. This enabled Varda\u2019s capsule to grow Ritonavir crystals, commonly used in antiviral medication. As particles function differently when no longer under the force of gravity, Varda\u2019s capsule utilizes microgravity conditions in space to formulate a range of pharmaceutical products.<\/p>\n Rocket Lab also supported the mission with 24\/7 satellite operations to return Varda\u2019s capsule to Earth. Rocket Lab\u2019s operations team completed multiple on-orbit trajectory optimization maneuvers that set the mission on its return-to-Earth trajectory, including four engine relights of Rocket Lab\u2019s 3D printed Curie propulsion system to move Varda\u2019s mission from a circular Earth orbit to an elliptical one, positioning Varda\u2019s capsule for a return to Earth at hypersonic speeds greater than Mach 25, or approximately 30,000 km per hour. <\/p>\n Deploying Varda\u2019s capsule on a hypersonic reentry trajectory to land within the incredibly tight boundaries of the mission\u2019s landing zone within the UTTR was an especially complex task that demanded pinpoint accuracy with a margin of error of less than 0.05%. Varda\u2019s recovery operations are now in full swing and once the capsule is retrieved by Varda, the company will conduct laboratory analysis of the space-grown crystals and determine its next steps for commercializing orbital drug processing and microgravity manufacturing.<\/p>\n Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO<\/strong>, says: \u201cThis mission was a phenomenal feat and impressive display of teamwork between the Rocket Lab and Varda teams to develop a unique and highly capable spacecraft, successfully demonstrate in-space manufacturing, and bring back the capsule and finished pharmaceutical product \u2013 all on the first attempt. Being part of the first pharmaceutical in-space mission to happen outside of the International Space Station is immensely exciting and we look forward to building on this success with more Rocket Lab spacecraft in development for Varda right now. The success of this reentry mission will also inform our work on developing a reentry capsule for Neutron to potentially enable human spaceflight missions.\u201d<\/p>\n The returned mission is the first of four Rocket Lab spacecraft ordered by Varda to support its in-space pharmaceutical processing. The remaining spacecraft are currently undergoing assembly, integration, and testing at Rocket Lab\u2019s spacecraft production facility in Long Beach, California, with the next spacecraft scheduled to launch before the end of the year. <\/p>\n These spacecraft for Varda are just some of the 25+ spacecraft currently under development at Rocket Lab\u2019s advanced spacecraft development and manufacturing complex, which features a 10,000 sq. ft. cleanroom and 40,000 sq. ft. of production & test facilities designed to support constellation-class manufacturing and satellite assembly, integration and test for commercial, civil and national security customers.<\/p>\n Click here to learn more about Varda Space’s In-space Manufacturing Capsule.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n