SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After eight months of waiting, space startup Varda has finally received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to bring its first spacecraft, the W-Series 1 capsule, back to Earth. The capsule has been stuck in orbit since its launch, but Varda has now been granted the necessary authorization to attempt a landing in Utah.
The approval means that Varda will try to land the W-1 mission on Feb. 21 at the Air Force’s Utah Test and Training Range. The company sees this mission as a demonstration of its automated in-space manufacturing process, which it hopes will pave the way for producing and returning space-made products more quickly. Varda’s goal is to manufacture materials such as fiber optic cables, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors in a weightless environment, taking advantage of the unique conditions of space.
The company’s system uses Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft as the backbone of its operation, along with a manufacturing module and a heatshield-protected capsule designed to survive reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. Varda is also aiming to return a few kilograms of manufactured material on the W-1 mission.
Varda’s long-awaited approval signifies a significant step forward for the company’s ambitions in the space manufacturing industry. The company’s dedication to safe innovation in the United States has been highlighted, as Varda looks ahead to the successful completion of the W-1 mission.
The FAA’s decision to grant Varda the green light to bring its spacecraft back to Earth has been a crucial development for the company, as it seeks to revolutionize the manufacturing process in space and capitalize on the commercial opportunities presented by space manufacturing. This approval marks a new chapter in Varda’s journey to push the boundaries of space technology and bring the fruits of space manufacturing back to Earth.