Rocket Lab Delivers Second Spacecraft, Completes Third for Varda Space Industries
Rocket Lab has delivered its second Pioneer spacecraft to Vandenberg Space Force Base and completed the third for Varda Space Industries. The two spacecraft are part of a four-vehicle contract aimed at revolutionizing commercial manufacturing in space. Built at Rocket Lab’s Spacecraft Production Complex, the Pioneer platform supports Varda’s reentry capsule, enabling microgravity operations. The first Pioneer spacecraft launched in 2023 and successfully deorbited in February 2024, growing crystals of the HIV/AIDS drug ritonavir.
The second mission is scheduled for Q1 2025, with reentry over Australia. Rocket Lab’s rapid production of the third spacecraft demonstrates its vertical integration strategy and scaling of satellite production. CEO Peter Beck highlights Rocket Lab’s growing end-to-end space capabilities, while Varda CEO Will Bruey anticipates frequent reentries. Rocket Lab’s capabilities include launch services, satellite manufacture, and on-orbit management, supporting various missions including NASA’s Moon and Mars missions.
Rocket Lab ha consegnato il suo secondo veicolo spaziale Pioneer alla Vandenberg Space Force Base e ha completato il terzo per Varda Space Industries. I due veicoli fanno parte di un contratto di quattro veicoli destinato a rivoluzionare la produzione commerciale nello spazio. Costruita presso il Complesso di Produzione Spaziale di Rocket Lab, la piattaforma Pioneer supporta la capsula di rientro di Varda, abilitando operazioni in microgravità. Il primo veicolo spaziale Pioneer è stato lanciato nel 2023 e ha completato con successo il rientro a febbraio 2024, crescendo cristalli del farmaco ritonavir per l'HIV/AIDS.
La seconda missione è programmata per il primo trimestre del 2025, con rientro sopra l'Australia. La rapida produzione del terzo veicolo spaziale da parte di Rocket Lab dimostra la sua strategia di integrazione verticale e la scalabilità della produzione di satelliti. Il CEO Peter Beck mette in evidenza le crescenti capacità di Rocket Lab nel settore spaziale dall'inizio alla fine, mentre il CEO di Varda, Will Bruey, si aspetta rientri frequenti. Le capacità di Rocket Lab includono servizi di lancio, produzione di satelliti e gestione in orbita, supportando varie missioni, comprese quelle sulla Luna e su Marte della NASA.
Rocket Lab ha entregado su segunda nave espacial Pioneer a la Base de la Fuerza Espacial de Vandenberg y ha completado la tercera para Varda Space Industries. Las dos naves son parte de un contrato de cuatro vehículos destinado a revolucionar la fabricación comercial en el espacio. Construida en el Complejo de Producción de Naves Espaciales de Rocket Lab, la plataforma Pioneer apoya la cápsula de reentrada de Varda, permitiendo operaciones en microgravedad. La primera nave espacial Pioneer se lanzó en 2023 y reentró con éxito en febrero de 2024, cultivando cristales del medicamento ritonavir para el VIH/SIDA.
La segunda misión está programada para el primer trimestre de 2025, con reentrada sobre Australia. La rápida producción de la tercera nave espacial por parte de Rocket Lab demuestra su estrategia de integración vertical y escalamiento de la producción de satélites. El CEO Peter Beck destaca las crecientes capacidades de Rocket Lab en el espacio de extremo a extremo, mientras que Will Bruey, CEO de Varda, anticipa reentradas frecuentes. Las capacidades de Rocket Lab incluyen servicios de lanzamiento, fabricación de satélites y gestión en órbita, apoyando diversas misiones, incluidas las misiones de la NASA a la Luna y Marte.
로켓랩은 두 번째 파이오니어 우주선이 반덴버그 우주군 기지에 도착했다고 발표하며, 바르다 스페이스 인더스트리스를 위해 세 번째 우주선을 완성했다고 전했다. 이 두 우주선은 우주에서 상업적 제조를 혁신하기 위한 네 대의 차량 계약의 일환으로 제작되었다. 로켓랩의 우주선 생산 복합체에서 제작된 파이오니어 플랫폼은 바르다의 재진입 캡슐을 지원하여 미세 중력 작업을 가능하게 한다. 첫 번째 파이오니어 우주선은 2023년에 발사되었고 2024년 2월에 성공적으로 재진입하여 HIV/AIDS 약물인 리토나비르의 결정체를 성장시켰다.
두 번째 임무는 2025년 1분기로 예정되어 있으며, 호주 상공에서 재진입할 예정이다. 로켓랩의 세 번째 우주선의 빠른 생산은 수직 통합 전략과 위성 생산의 확장을 보여준다. CEO인 피터 벡(Peter Beck)은 로켓랩의 성장하는 끝에서 끝까지 우주 능력을 강조하며, 바르다의 CEO인 윌 브루이(Will Bruey)는 빈번한 재진입을 예상하고 있다. 로켓랩의 능력으로는 발사 서비스, 위성 제작 및 궤도 관리가 포함되어 있으며, NASA의 달 및 화성 임무를 포함한 다양한 임무를 지원하고 있다.
Rocket Lab a livré son deuxième vaisseau spatial Pioneer à la base de la Force spatiale de Vandenberg et a terminé le troisième pour Varda Space Industries. Les deux vaisseaux font partie d'un contrat de quatre véhicules visant à révolutionner la fabrication commerciale dans l'espace. Construite dans le Complexe de Production de Véhicules Spatiaux de Rocket Lab, la plateforme Pioneer supporte la capsule de rentrée de Varda, permettant des opérations en microgravité. Le premier vaisseau spatial Pioneer a été lancé en 2023 et a réussi à revenir en février 2024, faisant croître des cristaux du médicament ritonavir contre le VIH/SIDA.
La deuxième mission est prévue pour le premier trimestre 2025, avec un retour au-dessus de l'Australie. La production rapide du troisième vaisseau spatial par Rocket Lab démontre sa stratégie d'intégration verticale et l'augmentation de la production de satellites. Le PDG Peter Beck souligne les capacités croissantes de Rocket Lab dans le domaine spatial de bout en bout, tandis que le PDG de Varda, Will Bruey, anticipe des rentrées fréquentes. Les capacités de Rocket Lab comprennent des services de lancement, la fabrication de satellites et la gestion en orbite, soutenant diverses missions, y compris celles de la NASA sur la Lune et Mars.
Rocket Lab hat sein zweites Pioneer-Raumschiff an der Vandenberg Space Force Base ausgeliefert und das dritte für Varda Space Industries abgeschlossen. Die beiden Raumschiffe sind Teil eines Vertrags über vier Fahrzeuge, der darauf abzielt, die kommerzielle Produktion im Weltraum zu revolutionieren. Die Pioneer-Plattform, die im Raumfahrzeugproduktionskomplex von Rocket Lab gebaut wurde, unterstützt die Rückkehrkapsel von Varda und ermöglicht Mikrogravitationseinsätze. Das erste Pioneer-Raumschiff wurde 2023 gestartet und kam im Februar 2024 erfolgreich zurück, während es Kristalle des HIV/AIDS-Medikaments Ritonavir züchtete.
Die zweite Mission ist für das erste Quartal 2025 geplant, mit einem Ritt über Australien. Die schnelle Produktion des dritten Raumschiffs durch Rocket Lab demonstriert seine vertikale Integrationsstrategie und die Skalierung der Satellitenproduktion. CEO Peter Beck hebt die wachsenden End-to-End-Raumfähigkeiten von Rocket Lab hervor, während Varda-CEO Will Bruey häufige Rückkehrdateien erwartet. Die Fähigkeiten von Rocket Lab umfassen Launch-Services, Satellitenherstellung und Orbitalmanagement und unterstützen verschiedene Missionen, einschließlich der Mond- und Marsmissionen der NASA.
- Successful delivery of second and completion of third Pioneer spacecraft.
- First Pioneer mission enabled growth of HIV/AIDS drug crystals.
- Second mission scheduled for Q1 2025 with reentry over Australia.
- Rapid production of third spacecraft demonstrates vertical integration.
- Rocket Lab's growing end-to-end space capabilities.
- None.
Insights
Rocket Lab's Second and Third Pioneer spacecraft for Varda Space Industries W-2 and W-3 missions. Image Credit: Rocket Lab
The two spacecraft are part of a four-vehicle contract between Rocket Lab and Varda, aimed at revolutionizing commercial manufacturing in space. Designed, built, and tested at Rocket Lab’s state-of-the-art Spacecraft Production Complex in
Rocket Lab’s Pioneer platform hosts Varda’s reentry capsule, which leverages microgravity conditions to conduct operations in space that are difficult or impossible on Earth. Rocket Lab’s Pioneer spacecraft provides essential systems for power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control for Varda’s 120kg reentry capsule. To enable Varda’s operations and safely return the capsule to Earth, the Pioneer spacecraft maneuvers the capsule into the precise position and sets it on a course for reentry. Rocket Lab also provides critical mission operations support for launch, commissioning, operation and reentry of the spacecraft. The first Pioneer spacecraft Rocket Lab developed for Varda was launched in 2023 and spent eight months on orbit, successfully enabling the growth of crystals of the HIV/AIDS-treating drug ritonavir inside Varda’s capsule. The capsule was successfully deorbited and landed in the
For Varda’s second mission, scheduled for launch in Q1 of 2025, Rocket Lab and Varda will once again conduct in-space operations, reentry positioning maneuvers, but this time deorbit the spacecraft over
Rocket Lab’s ability to complete production and testing of a third spacecraft for Varda less than two months after completion of the second is testament to the Company’s vertical integration strategy and recent scaling of satellite production capability. By vertically integrating design, component manufacturing, satellite integration and testing, Rocket Lab has optimized schedule and cost efficiency in satellite production.
“We’re setting a new standard for rapid, reliable satellite production,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck. “Each Pioneer spacecraft for Varda’s missions is a perfect demonstration of our growing capability as an end-to-end space company that delivers design, manufacturing, integration, testing, launch support and in-space operations to get our customers’ innovative ideas on orbit quickly and cost effectively.”
"This mission is another step toward high cadence reentry" said Varda CEO and co-founder Will Bruey. "Soon, reentry will be as common as launch."
Learn more about Rocket Lab’s spacecraft for Varda: Varda Space Industries | Rocket Lab (rocketlabusa.com)
+ About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in
+ Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.rocketlabusa.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
About Varda:
Varda Space Industries is expanding the economic bounds of humankind by designing and building the infrastructure needed to make low Earth orbit accessible to industry, from in-orbit production equipment to reliable and economical reentry capsules. The company operates out of
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+ Rocket Lab Media Contact
Lindsay McLaurin
media@rocketlabusa.com
Varda Media Contact:
Media@varda.com
Source: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
FAQ
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