Over the past two months, US-based space firm Rocket Lab has been able to complete two Earth return missions. The completion date for the second mission for the pharmaceuticals and hypersonic re-entry logistics company Varda Space Industries was 14 May 2025.

Second Earth Return Mission For Rocket Lab This Year Is The Third For Varda So Far

So far, Rocket Lab has completed three Earth return missions for Varda Space Industries. The first of these successful three Earth return missions was conducted in February 2024, and it landed at the Utah Test and Training Range near Salt Lake City.

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In February 2025, the second Earth return mission was conducted, making its landing at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. Now the space firm is proud to announce the successful completion of its third Earth return mission for Varda and the second for this year.

This third return mission brings back the Varda W-3 mission, which launched into space on 14 March 2025. All three Earth return missions for Varda use the Rocket Lab Pioneer spacecraft to deliver critical mission functions and return to Earth.

The design of this spacecraft helps it handle the launch and return of various space missions, like the last three Varda missions.

The fourth mission will rely on the Pioneer spacecraft to deliver Varda’s hypersonic re-entry capsule to Earth. The spacecraft is already in its development phase as it is undergoing integration and testing.

The spacecraft uses Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated components and systems. This includes star trackers, propulsion systems, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures, tanks, and separation systems, to mention a few.

Dave McFarland, Varda’s Vice President of Hypersonic and Reentry Tes says that “Varda’s third successful reentry represents a new era in the commercialisation of low Earth orbit.”