Posted on Sep 16, 2023
Varda Space puts off orbital factory reentry pending Air Force and FAA green light | TechCrunch
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The U.S. Air Force denied a recent request from Varda Space Industries to land its capsule at a Utah training area, pushing back the startup’s plans to show off the fruits of its in-space manufacturing, TechCrunch has learned. The company’s application for a commercial space license was also denied by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, an FAA spokesperson said.
Varda originally planned to bring back a capsule containing crystals of ritonavir, a drug used to treat HIV, in mid-July. After announcing that had been delayed, the company was looking at September 5 and 7, a source told TechCrunch. This information was confirmed by USAF.
The company declined to comment, but posted on X that the “spacecraft is healthy across all systems” and that they are continuing to collaborate with regulators to bring the capsule back to Earth. They added that the spacecraft can survive for up to a year on-orbit.
Varda originally planned to bring back a capsule containing crystals of ritonavir, a drug used to treat HIV, in mid-July. After announcing that had been delayed, the company was looking at September 5 and 7, a source told TechCrunch. This information was confirmed by USAF.
The company declined to comment, but posted on X that the “spacecraft is healthy across all systems” and that they are continuing to collaborate with regulators to bring the capsule back to Earth. They added that the spacecraft can survive for up to a year on-orbit.
Varda Space puts off orbital factory reentry pending Air Force and FAA green light | TechCrunch
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Posted 8 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“Our objective at the Utah Test and Training Range remains working with customers requesting reentry missions in a safe, secure, and sustainable fashion, upon which Varda (and potentially future partners) can model their investments, engagement, and activities,” the spokesperson said. “We also stress this is a whole-of-government and interagency process to set the correct precedents for future activities such as these.”
Varda is using Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft for this and at least three more subsequent missions. Varda’s 120-kilogram manufacturing capsule sits on top of the Photon, which is providing the power, data and attitude control for the mission. Upon reentry, Rocket Lab’s spacecraft will burn up in the atmosphere, while Varda’s capsule will continue on, release parachutes and land on Earth.
The story has been updated with comments from the FAA and to reflect that Varda’s FAA license was denied."...
..."“Our objective at the Utah Test and Training Range remains working with customers requesting reentry missions in a safe, secure, and sustainable fashion, upon which Varda (and potentially future partners) can model their investments, engagement, and activities,” the spokesperson said. “We also stress this is a whole-of-government and interagency process to set the correct precedents for future activities such as these.”
Varda is using Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft for this and at least three more subsequent missions. Varda’s 120-kilogram manufacturing capsule sits on top of the Photon, which is providing the power, data and attitude control for the mission. Upon reentry, Rocket Lab’s spacecraft will burn up in the atmosphere, while Varda’s capsule will continue on, release parachutes and land on Earth.
The story has been updated with comments from the FAA and to reflect that Varda’s FAA license was denied."...
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