Rocket Lab’s Second Reentry Class Spacecraft for Varda Operating on Orbit Supporting Payloads for Air Force Research Lab and NASA
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully deployed its second Pioneer spacecraft for Varda Space Industries' W-2 mission, which launched on January 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The spacecraft is supporting payloads for the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA, including a spectrometer and an expanded pharmaceutical reactor.
The mission follows Rocket Lab's first successful Varda mission, which completed the world's first orbital manufacturing outside the International Space Station. The Pioneer spacecraft provides critical functions for Varda's 120kg capsule, including power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control. After orbital processing, the spacecraft will guide Varda's capsule for deorbit and recovery at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia.
This marks the second of four spacecraft ordered by Varda, with the third spacecraft already completed and awaiting launch. The Pioneer spacecraft was built at Rocket Lab's Spacecraft Production Complex in Long Beach, California, integrating various company-developed components and systems.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) ha lanciato con successo il suo secondo veicolo spaziale Pioneer per la missione W-2 di Varda Space Industries, decollato il 14 gennaio dalla Vandenberg Space Force Base. Il veicolo spaziale supporta carichi utili per il Laboratorio di Ricerca dell'Air Force e la NASA, inclusi uno spettrometro e un reattore farmaceutico ampliato.
Questa missione segue il primo successo di Rocket Lab con la missione Varda, che ha completato la prima produzione orbitale al di fuori della Stazione Spaziale Internazionale. Il veicolo spaziale Pioneer fornisce funzioni critiche per la capsula da 120 kg di Varda, comprese potenza, comunicazioni, propulsione e controllo dell'assetto. Dopo l'elaborazione orbitale, il veicolo spaziale guiderà la capsula di Varda per la deorbitazione e il recupero presso il Koonibba Test Range in Australia Meridionale.
Questo segna il secondo di quattro veicoli spaziali ordinati da Varda, con il terzo già completato e in attesa di lancio. Il veicolo spaziale Pioneer è stato costruito nel Complesso di Produzione dei Veicoli Spaziali di Rocket Lab a Long Beach, California, integrando vari componenti e sistemi sviluppati dall'azienda.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) ha desplegado con éxito su segundo vehículo espacial Pioneer para la misión W-2 de Varda Space Industries, que se lanzó el 14 de enero desde la base Vandenberg Space Force. La nave espacial está apoyando cargas útiles para el Laboratorio de Investigación de la Fuerza Aérea y la NASA, incluyendo un espectrómetro y un reactor farmacéutico ampliado.
La misión sigue a la primera exitosa misión de Varda de Rocket Lab, que completó la primera fabricación orbital del mundo fuera de la Estación Espacial Internacional. La nave espacial Pioneer proporciona funciones críticas para la cápsula de 120 kg de Varda, incluyendo energía, comunicaciones, propulsión y control de actitud. Después del procesamiento orbital, la nave guiará la cápsula de Varda para la deorbitación y recuperación en el Koonibba Test Range en Australia Meridional.
Esto marca el segundo de cuatro vehículos espaciales ordenados por Varda, siendo el tercero ya completado y en espera de lanzamiento. La nave espacial Pioneer fue construida en el Complejo de Producción de Naves Espaciales de Rocket Lab en Long Beach, California, integrando varios componentes y sistemas desarrollados por la empresa.
로켓랩 (NASDAQ: RKLB)은 1월 14일 밴든버그 우주군 기지에서 발사된 바르다 스페이스 인더스트리의 W-2 미션을 위한 두 번째 파이오니어 우주선을 성공적으로 배치하였습니다. 이 우주선은 공군 연구소와 NASA를 위한 적재물을 지원하고 있으며, 여기에는 분광계와 확장된 제약용 반응기가 포함되어 있습니다.
이번 임무는 로켓랩의 첫 번째 바르다 미션에 이어 진행되며, 이는 국제 우주 정거장에서의 최초의 궤도 제조를 완료한 것입니다. 파이오니어 우주선은 바르다의 120kg 캡슐을 위한 핵심 기능을 제공하며, 여기에 전력, 통신, 추진 및 자세 제어가 포함됩니다. 궤도 처리 후, 우주선은 바르다의 캡슐을 위해 재진입 및 회복을 위한 안내를 진행할 것입니다. 이는 호주 남부의 쿤이바 시험장에서 이루어집니다.
이는 바르다가 주문한 네 개의 우주선 중 두 번째로, 세 번째 우주선은 이미 완공되어 발사를 기다리고 있습니다. 파이오니어 우주선은 로켓랩의 우주선 생산 단지에서 캘리포니아 롱비치에 있는 다양한 회사에서 개발한 부품과 시스템을 통합하여 제작되었습니다.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) a déployé avec succès son deuxième vaisseau spatial Pioneer pour la mission W-2 de Varda Space Industries, qui a été lancée le 14 janvier depuis la base de la Vandenberg Space Force. Le vaisseau spatial soutient des charges utiles pour le Laboratoire de recherche de l'armée de l'air et la NASA, y compris un spectromètre et un réacteur pharmaceutique élargi.
Cette mission fait suite au premier succès de Rocket Lab avec la mission Varda, qui a achevé la première fabrication orbitale au monde en dehors de la Station spatiale internationale. Le vaisseau spatial Pioneer fournit des fonctions critiques pour la capsule de 120 kg de Varda, y compris l'alimentation, les communications, la propulsion et le contrôle d'attitude. Après le traitement orbital, le vaisseau spatial guidera la capsule de Varda pour la désorbitation et la récupération à la zone d'essai de Koonibba en Australie-Méridionale.
Cela marque le deuxième de quatre vaisseaux spatiaux commandés par Varda, le troisième vaisseau spatial ayant déjà été achevé et attendant son lancement. Le vaisseau spatial Pioneer a été construit dans le Spacecraft Production Complex de Rocket Lab à Long Beach, Californie, intégrant divers composants et systèmes développés par l'entreprise.
Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) hat erfolgreich sein zweites Pioneer-Raumschiff für die W-2-Mission von Varda Space Industries eingesetzt, das am 14. Januar von der Vandenberg Space Force Base gestartet wurde. Das Raumschiff unterstützt Nutzlasten für das Air Force Research Laboratory und die NASA, darunter ein Spektrometer und einen erweiterten pharmazeutischen Reaktor.
Die Mission folgt der ersten erfolgreichen Varda-Mission von Rocket Lab, die die erste orbitale Herstellung außerhalb der Internationalen Raumstation abgeschlossen hat. Das Pioneer-Raumschiff bietet entscheidende Funktionen für Vardas 120-kg-Kapsel, einschließlich Energieversorgung, Kommunikation, Antrieb und Lageregelung. Nach der orbitalen Verarbeitung wird das Raumschiff Vardas Kapsel zum Wiedereintritt und zur Bergung im Koonibba-Testgelände in Südaustralien steuern.
Dies ist das zweite von vier Raumschiffen, die von Varda bestellt wurden, wobei das dritte Raumschiff bereits fertiggestellt und auf den Start wartet. Das Pioneer-Raumschiff wurde im Spacecraft Production Complex von Rocket Lab in Long Beach, Kalifornien, gebaut und integriert verschiedene von dem Unternehmen entwickelte Komponenten und Systeme.
- Successfully deployed second Pioneer spacecraft, demonstrating operational capabilities
- Secured multi-spacecraft contract with Varda (4 units total)
- Third spacecraft already completed, showing production efficiency
- Expanding into specialized space manufacturing services
- None.
Insights
The successful deployment of Rocket Lab's second Pioneer spacecraft for Varda represents a strategic advancement in commercial space manufacturing capabilities. The spacecraft's role in supporting AFRL and NASA payloads, alongside Varda's pharmaceutical reactor, demonstrates significant progress in orbital manufacturing diversification. The integration of multiple high-value payloads - including a spectrometer and NASA-developed Thermal Protection System - showcases the platform's versatility and commercial viability.
The successful track record from the first mission, which operated for 8 months before returning to Earth, validates the platform's reliability. This second mission strengthens Rocket Lab's position in the growing orbital manufacturing market, estimated to reach
Varda's expanded pharmaceutical reactor capability marks a pivotal development in space-based drug manufacturing. Previous microgravity research has shown that certain pharmaceutical compounds crystallize more uniformly in space, potentially leading to more effective medications. The successful commercialization of this technology could revolutionize pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, particularly for complex drugs that benefit from microgravity conditions.
The integration with government research payloads suggests strong institutional backing and potential regulatory pathway development for space-manufactured pharmaceuticals. This positions Rocket Lab and Varda at the forefront of a nascent but potentially lucrative market segment in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
This successful deployment strengthens Rocket Lab's recurring revenue streams through their four-spacecraft contract with Varda. The company's expansion beyond pure launch services into high-value spacecraft manufacturing and mission services demonstrates effective vertical integration and margin expansion potential. With the third spacecraft already completed, the pipeline visibility adds stability to revenue projections.
The collaboration with AFRL and NASA enhances Rocket Lab's credibility in the government contracting space, potentially opening doors for additional high-value contracts. The company's proven capability in managing complex missions involving re-entry vehicles positions them favorably in the emerging commercial space manufacturing sector, providing multiple growth vectors beyond traditional launch services.
Rocket Lab’s Pioneer spacecraft for Varda’s W-2 mission in the cleanroom at Vandenberg Space Force Base. (Photo: Business Wire)
Varda’s W-2 mission includes a Rocket Lab Pioneer spacecraft and a Varda re-entry capsule carrying a spectrometer from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The capsule employs a heatshield with a Thermal Protection System (TPS) developed in collaboration with NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. These payloads are in addition to Varda’s expanded pharmaceutical reactor which will expand capability and capacity for pharmaceutical processing. The W-2 mission follows on from Rocket Lab’s first mission for Varda, which operated in orbit for eight months before returning to Earth in early 2024 in a successful demonstration of the world’s first orbital manufacturing mission conducted outside of the International Space Station.
Like the first Pioneer spacecraft for Varda, the W-2 Pioneer is delivering critical mission functions for Varda’s 120kg capsule including power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control. Following the payload processing phase in orbit, Rocket Lab’s spacecraft will guide and position Varda’s capsule for deorbit, enabling a hypersonic re-entry and recovery at the Koonibba Test Range in
The Pioneer spacecraft was designed, built, and tested at Rocket Lab’s Spacecraft Production Complex and headquarters in
“Another Rocket Lab spacecraft is in orbit, performing well, and supporting innovative new space capabilities for our mission partners Varda Space Industries,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck. “We’ve built a deep expertise in guidance, navigation, and control, allowing us to precisely manage spacecraft operations in some of the most demanding environments, ensuring that our customers, like Varda, can rely on us to safely and accurately deliver their mission goals, from on orbit operations to capsule re-entry.”
"Varda and its partners are building a foundation layer for the orbital economy. The W-2 mission is in service of this goal," said Varda CEO and co-founder Will Bruey. "We are looking forward to many more successful missions, and a world where products made in orbit are seen as commonplace."
The W-2 mission is the second of four spacecraft ordered by Varda to support orbital processing, with the third spacecraft complete and awaiting shipment for 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
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115691114/en/
+ 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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