Part 7/18:
This technological inflection point is compared to commercial air travel's evolution, where reusable aircraft made flying routine and affordable. The shift from "Napa" to "LA" in launch frequency symbolizes this revolution, bringing space activity closer to the ubiquity of air travel. Lower costs and higher frequency will support industries such as pharmaceuticals, fiber optics, and semiconductors, making in-space manufacturing more viable.
The Challenge and Significance of Returning from Orbit
A notable technological milestone is the capability to return objects from orbit in a controlled way. Varda prides itself on being the third company ever to retrieve payloads from orbit—a feat accentuated by the fact that orbit involves achieving Earth’s escape velocity, not just reaching space.