2 spacecraft in orbit and 8 more coming soon: Varda has big plans for in-space manufacturing

Reentry and orbital-manufacturing company Varda Space Industries operates two spacecraft in orbit, with a third expected to launch in the coming days and seven more slated for next year. The Los Angeles-based startup, one of only two companies capable of commercial reentry from space, recently launched its latest pair of refrigerator-sized spacecraft aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission on October 1.

Varda CEO Will Bruey explained that this was the first time multiple commercial reentry vehicles were launched simultaneously. The payloads on the Transporter-18 included pharmaceuticals, navigation systems, and exterior thermal-protection materials. Varda markets its spacecraft as mini-factories that can produce valuable goods in orbit and bring them safely down to Earth.

Another vehicle is scheduled to launch later this month, following three more in December, with seven additional missions planned for 2027. Varda aims to treat its missions as a fleet rather than one-offs, moving towards a standardized product put together on an assembly line. However, the company faces challenges in scaling safely and efficiently, with a recent $251 million Series D funding round to support its growth.

Varda plans to fly daily, but an anticipated rocket shortage may hinder this goal in the near future.