Space start-up Varda to build in-orbit factories

Edinburgh, 30 July 2021. – Varda Space Industries has raised over $50 million to launch its first in-orbit factory in 2023, the Californian company said. The space factory is planned to bring back 100 kg of material during its first assignment. Varda was founded last year by a pair with experience at SpaceX and Founders Fund.

Manufacturing materials in space is not a new concept as SpaceX currently delivers cargo and research materials to and from the International Space Station (ISS) approximately every six months.

Varda’s aim is to launch and return space-made products quicker than that, focusing on “bringing value back down to Earth,” said co-founder Delian Asparouhov.

Varda is planning to gain share in the semiconductor, fibre optic, and pharmaceutical markets. In order to achieve their goal, they are creating a three-piece spacecraft, consisting of a commercially-available spacecraft platform, a module for manufacturing, and a heatshield-protected capsule for re-entry and parachute landing.

Varda Space Industries is planning to swiftly increase its 16 staff members to 40 by the time of the first launch and is to steadily expand from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions to larger ones and go to more fixed stations in orbit.