Varda Readies In-House Spacecraft for Next Launch. Varda Space Industries is preparing to launch its fourth spacecraft, W-4, on a SpaceX rideshare mission set to lift off on June 21 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Los Angeles-based company specializes in producing pharmaceuticals in space and safely bringing them back to Earth using innovative reentry capsules.
SpaceX Establishes Dominance at Vandenberg. SpaceX faced a pivotal moment in its early history when it was forced to leave Vandenberg Space Force Base in 2005 following a successful Falcon 1 rocket test firing. After a brief relocation to Kwajalein Atoll, SpaceX eventually secured a launch site at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Upon its return to Vandenberg with the Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX made a triumphant comeback and has since solidified its position at the site.
Varda’s Partnership with Rocket Lab Fades Away. Although Varda initially teamed up with Rocket Lab for its first three missions, the company has made a significant shift by unveiling its own internally manufactured spacecraft in the upcoming W-4 mission. By internalizing design and production processes, Varda aims to streamline launch timelines and enhance customization to better cater to customer demands. Varda identified vertical integration as a key strategy for scaling up its operations.
- ULA Faces Delays with Kuiper 2 Launch. Following a hardware issue with the booster engine, United Launch Alliance had to postpone the launch of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 551 carrying Amazon’s Project Kuiper mission, Kuiper
- While ULA works on resolving the problem, a new launch date is expected to be announced soon. Additionally, ULA has secured Amazon as a customer for six more Atlas 5 rockets for their satellite program, showcasing a strong partnership between the two companies.
