FAA goes after another space company and stops vital drugs! Plus, Space Forge update!

The FAA is at it again, this time blocking the return of the Varda Space W1 satellite, together with vital HIV drugs! How will this impact the future of space manufacturing? Plus, will competitor Space Forge take advantage?
#space #nasa #esa

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[mamulcahy]

It’s amazing what big pharma can accomplish through their lobbyists.

[PaulBCAB]

If Varda has problems in/with the US. They might want to try Australia. There's a large central desert, not a lot of air traffic. Japan recovered the Hayabusa2 astroid sample return in Australia.

[migs]

Science: Save more lives for Cheaper!!

Politicians: "This has a negative impact on our well being."

[johnrday]

Now how is it possible FAA gave permission to Varda Space Industries to launch a satellite (but apparently neglected to question how it might return to earth) and is now attempting to not allow it to return ???

[odysseusrex]

It would be just absolutely sickening if US government regulators, whether politically motivated or not, stifled a new industry in the cradle and allowed foreign competitors to build it instead. That said, it is heartening to see Britain developing new, high tech industries. So often, the attitude their seems to have been, no, we can't do anything new because that might disrupt what we already have going.

[kenmccarty]

It's going to come down eventually regardless whether the FAA gives the satellite permission to do so. Does the FAA want it to come down in a controlled manner or not? Which way is safer? I smell lawsuit if not resolved sooner rather than later.

[DanVolk]

good coverage. Thank you for covering all things space related. This is exciting new technology. It could be a huge benefit to mankind overall.

[Frantixj]

I think I read about that in July, it was due to some new regulations which basically makes them review and renew all licenses but they only completed a handful of these so far. Seems that FAA is getting lost in their own rules...

[TonyP]

What does this mean for the future of sample-return missions? It sounds like the FAA is waiting for China to take the lead. This year we've had more runway incursions, near-misses and RTB due to maintenance problems than all of last last decade.

[lonlipscomb]

"Convection" - Let me translate that for you from what I read about similar proposed space pharmaceutical experiments in the 1990's. Even with very careful temperature control, micro differences combined with gravity mix the purified product with contamination around it as it is pulled through a narrow gate based in atomic weight/charge. Without that, in microgravity, the unmixed pure product in solution can pass more pure, less contaminated, through a narrow gate for ultra pure result. A problem for a very few pharmaceuticals, but problem.

[tortysoft]

Totally unique information. What incredible possibilities. Disruptive? Oh yes !

[bobthebomb]

Speaking as a Brit I am happy to see that the UK is working in this area.
The UK is so far behind the rest of the world that I don't ever see it building competitive rockets for space launches. Far better to concentrate on satellite manufacture and activities in space itself. I just hope the government does nothing to undermine it.

[davidelang]

I'd like to see how they plan to prevent the satellite from reentering forever

[TheStormpilgrim]

Not sure how this is much of a threat to established pharmaceutical companies. You can't crank out millions of doses in a reusable satellite like you could in a factory in India and most drugs don't require such perfection. It got me imagining a new plot direction for Breaking Bad, though:

Walter: "I can get you 99.99% purity."
Gus: "How on earth would that be possible?"
Walter: "We don't do it on earth. We cook it in space!"
Gus: "Space...meth?"
Walter: "It practically sells itself, doesn't it? Heisenberg is done. Call me von Braun."

[scottramos]

FAA really seems to be rather draconian with their policies and regulations lately. What the FAA has done in regards to radio control airplane hobbyists has really put a wet blanket on the hobby. What is being done to Varda is no surprise to me. My guess is that if it had been done by a larger pharma company or a larger satellite company, there would have been a different result.

[karkatshipper]

I miss colorado so much. I hope things are doing good out there. Stay safe on the road out there.

[Wellorep]

They should just ask another country to land somewhere else and just bypass this bs. Not sure if it is water tight but maybe make the next ones able to be picked up in the ocean. Then just reenter a few miles off the coast

[womble]

Why don't they land it in another country and why didn't the get permission first?

[jonkeau]

Some corrupt official didn’t get his bribe money…

[slwiser]

Once Varda is sold for pennies to a major parma company it will get all the support it needs to make those drugs.