The first space factory has launched, aimed at producing pharmaceuticals in microgravity. A capsule will return the finished products to Earth.
The first one is in orbit
Varda Space Industries confirms its recently launched W-Series 1 satellite is in orbit. The project was founded by former SpaceX engineer Will Bruin and former Founders Fund director Delian Asparuhov.
The mission of W-Series 1 is to test whether medications can be produced during spaceflight. During the test campaign, the satellite will help researchers develop ritonavir in space — a prescription drug commonly used to treat HIV and hepatitis C.
The W-Series 1 satellite is a pilot test vehicle. It could be the first in a series of spacecraft that pave the way for a factory in space. Varda announced the successful launch on June 13, 2023.
Pharmaceutical production in orbit is expected to begin this week. Varda team members say the satellite will produce “space medicines” and then send them back to Earth in a return capsule.
Developing pharmaceuticals in microgravity
Designboom reports that Varda Space Industries’ spacecraft consist of three main components: a satellite bus, a payload module, and a return capsule. These components will be launched on commercial rockets. Currently, the satellite is attached to SpaceX’s Transporter-8.
Upon reaching space, the spacecraft will begin operating as a factory, producing medical materials. After manufacturing is complete, the finished products will return to Earth inside a descent module called Varda. It will detach from the main spacecraft and reenter at speeds over 46,600 km/h. To slow down during landing, the capsule is equipped with a built-in parachute.
Varda is collaborating with research organizations to develop specialized compounds in microgravity and to expand its first space factory. Initially, the focus is on creating formulations of small-molecule drugs.
In the future, the startup plans to expand into biopharmaceuticals. For now, the mission’s goal is to return a small amount of material from space for testing in labs before scaling up production.
Varda says this will allow production in space and support a more efficient supply chain. The spacecraft will act as a manufacturing platform in microgravity.
All of this signals a potential revolution in manufacturing. Varda says its return capsules will not only bring produced goods back safely but also help advance research and improvements in hypersonic systems.
Collaboration with Rocket Lab on orbital factories
Varda hopes to produce market-ready products at its first space factory — things like fiber-optic cables, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. The company says manufacturing these items in microgravity will outperform Earth-based production.
Varda is collaborating with Rocket Lab to build four Photon spacecraft. Once completed, they will be launched to operational orbit and kept in position.
The Photon spacecraft will provide power, data, and control for Varda’s manufacturing modules and reentry modules, each weighing about 120 kg. Each Photon will also include radios, reaction wheels, and star trackers designed and built by Rocket Lab.
