A groundbreaking event occurred as the W-1 capsule, launched by Varda Space in collaboration with Rocket Lab in June, successfully landed in Utah's West Desert after operating in space for eight months. This marks a significant achievement in space exploration and commercial payload delivery. The capsule, part of Varda Space's ambitious project to industrialize space by establishing the world's first space manufacturing facility, was launched into orbit to manufacture pharmaceuticals in space. After completing its mission, the capsule brought back the manufactured space drugs to Earth. This venture, co-founded by Delian Asparouhov, a notable figure who graduated from SLC's West High, dropped out of MIT, and is a partner in the $11B Founders Fund, represents a major step forward in making routine space drug manufacturing a reality. The successful landing was celebrated by various stakeholders, including Rocket Lab, which expressed gratitude for the collaboration and hinted at future missions. This event not only showcases the potential for space to contribute to pharmaceutical manufacturing but also highlights the technological prowess and collaborative spirit of the companies involved.
It was great to work with @VardaSpace to capture their recovery operations of the W-1 capsule, which had been operating in space for eight months testing in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing before its reentry and landing at the Utah Test and Training Range yesterday. https://t.co/4BVQctlkJt
Varda Space, Rocket Lab Nail First-of-Its-Kind Spacecraft Landing in Utah https://t.co/vZRq9APQJm
Varda Space, Rocket Lab nail first-of-its-kind spacecraft landing in Utah. $RKLB https://t.co/CnKykRSSra
A small capsule that was launched into space back in June landed in Utahβs west desert on Wednesday with a commercial payload for a California company co-founded by a man who grew up in Salt Lake City. https://t.co/2q6AKvISyv
A small capsule is set to touchdown in Utah's west desert bringing with it important data collected in space by a California-based company. https://t.co/lri9tnEKv3
Holy crap HUGE congrats to the Varda team! https://t.co/4iIEQM2tsQ
Congrats Varda team! Routine space drug manufacturing is coming! https://t.co/9me84A8WV6
Varda created the world's first space manufacturing facility, launched it into orbit, manufactured space drugs, and has now successfully brought the drugs back down to Earth. Industrialize space so we can benefit here on Earth. Incredible work by everyone at @VardaSpace https://t.co/AXzR3O3HyK
Varda Space, Rocket Lab nail first-of-its-kind spacecraft landing in Utah https://t.co/BhRobOaI72
W-1 is home π π°οΈ A phenomenal effort from our space systems team. Bullseye for our first reentry mission. Thank you to the @VardaSpace team. Let's do it all again for W-2 soon. https://t.co/BT4I8EHbUT
CAPSULE HAS LANDED @VardaSpace
Hereβs the TFR for the reentry of the Varda capsule that will land in Utahβs West Desert today. Fascinating stuff! https://t.co/AoQQqEqtKh
A space capsule is scheduled to land in Utah's West Desert today. Read more: https://t.co/woaiATgylQ
A capsule is expected to land in Utah's West Desert today. The entrepreneur who launched it is Delian Asparouhov aka @zebulgar, who graduated from SLC's West High, dropped out of MIT, is a partner in $11B @foundersfund and co-founder of @VardaSpace. https://t.co/Pef5DReDer