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Is the future of biotechnology going to be built in orbit? Rocket Lab and Varda Space have an ambitious plan to prove that it is.
What’s happening:
- Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully completed testing and integration of its Pioneer spacecraft to be used by in-space pharmaceutical processing company Varda Space on their second ever mission
Why it matters:
- Rocket Lab previously provided Varda Space with a Pioneer spacecraft which was used by Varda Space to successfully crystallize the HIV drug Ritonavir while in orbit
- Processing materials in microgravity has the potential to unlock entirely new breakthroughs in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, which is made possible due to the lack of convection and sedimentation that exists in microgravity
Going deeper:
- Varda Space previously raised a mega funding round from some of the leading venture capital funds in Silicon Valley to advance their microgravity technology, landing investment from Caffeinated Capital, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital and others
- Rocket Lab has been making strides towards becoming one of the most dominant publicly traded space companies in the world, recently completing another successful launch in New Zealand as well as landing a deal with NASA to supply them with twin satellites
The intrigue:
- Varda Space recently secured an approval from the United States Federal Aviation Admission for reentry back to Earth from orbit, making them the only company to ever receive two approvals for reentry ever
