Varda's W-1 capsule lands in Utah with ritonavir crystals grown in orbit

Varda Space Industries/W-series capsules

Varda Space Industries' W-1 capsule landed in the Utah desert on February 21, 2024, after more than eight months in orbit with crystallized ritonavir—an HIV treatment drug—grown in microgravity. This was the first time a commercial company landed a spacecraft on US soil and the first demonstration of commercial pharmaceutical manufacturing in space.

• Capsule landed 21 February at ~4:40 p.m. EST after 8+ months in orbit; carried ritonavir crystals grown in zero gravity.
• Rocket Lab's Photon satellite bus executed the de-orbit burn; the bus burned up as designed while the heat-shielded capsule descended under parachute.
• Varda sent ritonavir vials to Improved Pharma for research characterization; shared all mission data with Air Force and NASA per agreements.