Varda Space Returns Spacecraft Carrying Microgravity-Grown Drug Crystals After 7 Months in Orbit
• Varda Space successfully returns in-space manufacturing capsule to Earth after 7 months in orbit
• Capsule contains crystals of antiviral drug Ritonavir grown in microgravity environment
• Varda is 3rd private company after SpaceX and Boeing to recover intact spacecraft from orbit
• Capsule launched in June 2023 aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission
• Varda to analyze capsule data and send Ritonavir samples to pharma company for research