According to the Guardian, three capsules about the size of washing machines are currently circling Earth at an altitude of roughly 300 miles. One capsule is being used to grow microscopic crystals of a possible cancer treatment in microgravity, the Guardian reported. The other two are evaluating heat shielding and navigation technology intended for use during hypersonic reentry into the atmosphere. The Guardian reported that the vehicles belong to California-based Varda Space Industries, which launched two together on a single rocket on 1 October and a third on 20 October. The Guardian said the milestone marks the first time the company has had three spacecraft in orbit at once, bringing it closer to its goal of running a fleet of space-based pharmaceutical factories. The report described the effort as an early but important move toward a potential new industry for making drugs and other materials beyond Earth.
Source: The Guardian.
