Latest news with #spacebased
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump's Golden Dome to undergo crucial test
A major defense contractor has announced plans to conduct space-based tests on President Donald Trump 's Golden Dome within the next three years. Lockheed Martin, one of the Pentagon 's prime military contractors responsible for the F-35 fighter jet and Black Hawk helicopters, will demonstrate a space-based interceptor missile by 2028, the company has announced. Lockheed is now quickly creating command and control (C2) capabilities to aid in Trump's Golden Dome initiative, the company announced this week. 'Golden Dome for America is a challenge unlike anything attempted at this scale or on this timeline, and we're moving fast to bring together connected C2 capabilities that work now,' Thad Beckert, Golden Dome C2 director at Lockheed Martin, said in a press release. The Golden Dome is projected to cost around $175 billion in total and take three years to be ready, Trump has said, though analysts expect the project to cost more and take longer. Whichever Pentagon contractor can successfully prove a reliable ability to shoot down incoming advanced missiles first could win billions in funding, meaning the race to shoot down missiles in space is on. Congress has already approved $24.4 billion worth of Golden Dome funding in Trump's recently passed domestic policy agenda dubbed the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill.' An estimate from the Arms Control Center shows that the total funding for the project could reach up to $500 billion. The Congressional Budget Office also estimates that the project could cost up to $540 billion over the next two decades. 'We have missile warning and tracking satellites made by Lockheed Martin in orbit today that provide timely detection and warning of missile threats,' said Amanda Pound, mission strategy and advanced capabilities director at Lockheed Martin Space, told Fox News Digital this week. 'We are committed to making space-based interceptors for missile defense a reality, leveraging our decades of experience, investments, and industry partnerships, to be ready for on orbit testing in 2028.' Trump first announced the Golden Dome initiative in May, expressing his desire to create a system similar to Israel's Iron Dome, which has proved vital in its war with Hamas. 'This is very important for the success and even survival of our country. It's a pretty evil world out there,' he said. 'Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they're launched from space. And we will have the best system ever built.' Trump declared that the establishment of the Golden Dome would provide 'close to 100 percent protection' of the U.S. and is 'very important for the success and even survival of our country.' The missile defense system, along with others, has been praised for shooting down ballistic missiles launched at the country from Iran and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. The U.S. Golden Dome project will feature a vast array of sensors, satellites, land and space-based weapons that all work together to identify and neutralize targets. 'This rapid C2 prototyping effort is one among many within Lockheed Martin demonstrating how we can support the US Government as a Golden Dome for America mission partner,' said Daniel Nimblett, Vice President of Layered Homeland Defense at Lockheed Martin. He said the project aims to deliver 'real-time situational awareness' and 'informed decision-making to defend the nation.' Lockheed demonstrated its ability to intercept hypersonic medium-range missiles in March after testing its Aegis Combat System aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer. Previously, a similar effort was launched in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan called the Strategic Defense Initiative, which was later dubbed 'Star Wars.' That ambitious plan sought to similarly install space-based defense systems. However, it was eventually scrubbed due to inadequate technology and ballooning costs.
Sustainability Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Sustainability Times
'They're Making Space Drugs Now': Varda Space Unleashes Orbital Lab to Manufacture Medicines Earth's Gravity Could Never Allow
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 Varda Space Industries leads the way in space-based drug development, utilizing microgravity for novel formulations. leads the way in space-based drug development, utilizing microgravity for novel formulations. 💰 The company has raised a total of $329 million to enhance its pharmaceutical lab capabilities in space. to enhance its pharmaceutical lab capabilities in space. 🛰️ Varda is the first to process materials outside the International Space Station , marking a significant milestone in commercial space operations. , marking a significant milestone in commercial space operations. 🏢 New facilities in Huntsville, Alaska, and El Segundo, California, expand their research capabilities for biologic drug crystallization. In the ever-expanding frontier of space exploration, Varda Space Industries stands out as a pioneering force, aiming to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. By harnessing the unique conditions of microgravity, Varda Space is set to achieve what was once deemed impossible on Earth: the development of novel drug formulations. With significant funding and groundbreaking technology, the company is ready to push the boundaries of science, creating a new era of space-based drug manufacturing. As Varda Space propels forward, curiosity mounts around the potential impacts on healthcare and the broader scientific community. Varda Space's Microgravity Drug Development Varda Space Industries, with its latest funding round of $187 million, brings its total capital raised to an impressive $329 million. This financial boost, led by investors such as Natural Capital and Shrug Capital, signifies strong confidence in Varda's vision. According to CEO Will Bruey, this capital injection will enhance their pharmaceutical lab capabilities, promising the delivery of the world's first microgravity-enabled drug formulations. The potential of microgravity in drug development is immense. Active pharmaceutical ingredients demonstrate different crystallization patterns in space, offering opportunities for creating more stable and effective medications. A notable example is the research conducted by Merck, showing that microgravity conditions allowed for a more stable formulation of pembrolizumab, a critical component of the cancer drug Keytruda. 'Coffee Stains Unleash Medical Breakthrough': This Radical Test Delivers a 100x Leap in Disease Detection Speed and Accuracy, Shocking US Doctors Everywhere Varda Space envisions mass manufacturing of drugs in space. As cofounder Delian Asparouhov explains, the company's current space vehicles can return approximately 110 pounds of active pharmaceutical ingredient, sufficient for a full batch of certain drugs. This capability marks a significant step toward sustainable space-based pharmaceutical production. The First to Process Materials Outside the ISS Varda Space Industries has distinguished itself as the first company to process materials outside the International Space Station (ISS). Having successfully completed three launch and return missions, with a fourth currently in orbit, Varda is solidifying its position as a leader in commercial space operations. Their first mission, W-1, involved growing crystals of the anti-HIV drug ritonavir in low Earth orbit, setting a precedent for future endeavors. 'SpaceX Fears for Its Survival!': China's Private Rocket Company Stuns the World With Reusable Launch, Threatening to Eclipse Musk's Entire Space Empire By establishing orbital laboratories, Varda Space is facilitating the commercial expansion into low Earth orbit. This move not only demonstrates the company's technological prowess but also positions it as a catalyst for broader industry involvement in space-based research and development. Such advancements underscore the potential for space to become a new frontier for pharmaceutical innovation. Expanding Operations and Facilities Founded by former SpaceX avionics engineer Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov of Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, Varda Space Industries is rapidly expanding its operations. The company has recently opened a new office in Huntsville, Alaska, and a laboratory in El Segundo, California. These facilities are pivotal for crystallizing biologic drugs and refining their formulations. 'We Slashed the Work by 99.9%': Scientists Achieve Fusion Reactor Analysis 15× Faster in Unbelievable Computational Breakthrough The expansion reflects Varda Space's commitment to advancing its research capabilities and strengthening its position in the industry. With these strategic locations, the company is well-equipped to pioneer innovative solutions and drive progress in space-based pharmaceutical manufacturing. This growth trajectory highlights the increasing interest and investment in utilizing space for scientific breakthroughs. The Future of Space-Based Pharmaceuticals The groundbreaking work of Varda Space Industries is just the beginning of a new era in space-based pharmaceuticals. By leveraging the unique environment of space, the company is poised to unlock unprecedented opportunities for drug development and production. The implications for healthcare are vast, with potential improvements in drug efficacy, stability, and availability. As Varda Space continues to innovate, the world watches with anticipation. The success of their endeavors could pave the way for other companies to explore similar ventures, ultimately transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. The question remains: how will this bold leap into space influence the future of medicine and shape our understanding of what is possible? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. 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