Rocket Lab Successfully Returns Spacecraft Capsule to Earth.

Rocket Lab USA successfully returned a spacecraft capsule to Earth containing pharmaceuticals manufactured in space by Varda Space Industries. The capsule landed in the Utah desert, marking the first time a commercial company has landed a spacecraft on U.S. soil and the successful conclusion of Varda's first experimental mission to grow pharmaceuticals in orbit. The returned crystals of the drug ritonavir, used to treat HIV/AIDS, will be analyzed and shared with Air Force and NASA for post-flight characterization.

February 21, 2024
14 Articles