In-space manufacturing startup aces pharma experiment in orbit
Enlarge / Varda Space's first "Winnebago" spacecraft, called W-Series 1, before its launch June 12. (credit: Rocket Lab)
The co-founder of California-based startup Varda Space Industries says his company's first space mission-a miniature lab that has grown crystals of the drug ritonavir in orbit-is on track to end in the coming weeks with a first-of-its-kind re-entry and landing in Utah.
Varda's spacecraft launched June 12 as part of a rideshare mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, then completed several weeks of checkouts before starting a 27-hour drug-manufacturing experiment last week. When ground controllers gave the go-ahead, the mini-lab began growing crystals of ritonavir, a drug commonly used to treat HIV.
The experiment's 27-hour run was completed on June 30, and data downlinked from the spacecraft showed everything went well.