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SpaceX to launch Varda Space’s first Rocket Lab-derived ‘space factory’ satellite
Startup Varda Space says it has contracted with SpaceX to launch its first satellite – based on a Rocket Lab bus called Photon – on a Falcon 9 rideshare mission in early 2023.
Founded in late 2020, Varda Space says its mission “is to build the first space factory” – or, to be more precise, the first all-in-one space factory. While far from the commercial orbital laboratory many at NASA would like to paint it as, the joint NASA-Russia International Space Station (ISS) routinely hosts payloads from paying customers, some of which are focused on manufacturing (albeit at an absurdly low volume) materials that can only be made in microgravity (i.e. ‘zero-G’). The products those experiments or miniature factories produce are then returned to Earth on one of SpaceX’s Dragons – still the only spacecraft in existence capable of delivering large amounts of cargo from space to Earth more than a decade after its debut.
This is to say that orbital manufacturing is not exactly a new practice and has been ongoing – at a very, very small scale – for years through companies like Made In Space. What Varda Space wants to do, then, is repeat – and, nominally, expand that ISS-proven model. Rather than launching small experiments or mini-factories to the ISS, where a captive ISS crew is often available to troubleshoot or help maintain them, Varda wants to build its own small satellites with tiny reentry capsules capable of returning up to 100 kg (~220 lb) to Earth.
Two months after the company announced it had raised more than $53 million in funding, Varda Space now says that it will launch the first of its custom-built “space factories” on a Falcon 9 rideshare mission in Q1 2023. In August, Varda revealed that it had contracted with small launch company Rocket Lab to purchase three of its Photon satellite buses – each to serve as a sort of mothership for each Varda-built reentry capsule. Based on Rocket Lab’s successful Electron rocket kick stage, Photon adds solar panels, batteries, avionics, more propellant, and optional propulsion upgrades to create an off-the-shelf satellite bus capable of supporting and powering onboard payloads.
Instead of having to build and qualify their own satellites, Photon thus gives certain customers the opportunity to focus their time and resources on developing the payloads they want to deploy and services they want to operate. No need to reinvent the wheel, in other words. Varda Space appears to be the first company intent on fully taking advantage of that opportunity – and to great effect given that the startup has raised more than $50M less than a year after it was founded.
Additionally, with its SpaceX launch contract, Varda Space has also effectively revealed that Rocket Lab has no clause preventing Photon customers from launching their procured satellite buses on rockets not built by Rocket Lab. While dedicated small satellite launchers like Rocket Lab’s Electron offer some benefits, they do so at a huge premium. While an Electron launch carrying 200 kg (440 lb) to a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is believed to cost around $7.5M, a slot on a SpaceX rideshare to a similar (but not as perfectly tailored) orbit would cost the same customer about $1M – practically a magnitude cheaper.
Rocket Lab’s Photon likely costs just a few million dollars and comes by default with a propulsion system capable of refining the spacecraft’s orbit after a one-size-fits-all rideshare launch. That means that manifest a Photon-based satellite on a SpaceX rideshare could likely cut the cost of buying and launching a new satellite in half – and maybe further. The question, then, is whether Varda can take those potentially substantial cost savings and design and manufacture a tiny orbital reentry capsule that’s cheap enough to make its free-flying space factories competitive with the International Space Station (ISS).
A new Tesla patent that has been granted to the company this week has revealed a potential strategy for solving a major issue that could impact both the Full Self-Driving suite and Optimus.
The patent, which is No. 12,636,684, describes a “Lens Cleaning System,” and was submitted by Tesla in May 2025.
The language in the patent details a lens cleaning system that can dispense fluid and wipe it away with a wiper assembly.
Optimus can see you now… 🤖👁️
The patent for @Tesla_Optimus‘s eye structure just dropped. $TSLA pic.twitter.com/Jac4VhDmKH
— SETI Park (@seti_park) May 26, 2026
This would effectively clean any debris that would potentially impact the visibility of the cameras on Tesla automobiles or Optimus’s camera eyes. Perhaps the most pertinent example is through the Full Self-Driving suite, as debris that can accumulate on the vehicle’s exterior cameras can impact the suite’s ability to operate effectively.
This requires a remedy through manual cleaning, but this patent hints that Tesla could be planning to implement this new technology on its upcoming vehicles.
Interestingly, we have started to see it on some Robotaxi vehicles, and it will likely be included in the Cybercab, especially as that vehicle will enable full autonomy.
Back in January, the first Model Y Robotaxi units were spotted with camera washers on the side repeaters, as the video below shows fluid squirting and rinsing off any debris that is limiting visibility.
🚨 Tesla looks to have installed Camera Washers on the side repeater cameras on Robotaxis in Austin
pic.twitter.com/xemRtDtlRR— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 23, 2026
This hardware patent does bring up an interesting question for those of us who own Teslas with AI4 and have been told that our cars will one day be capable of full autonomy: Will this washer be available as a retrofit on already-built cars?
Perhaps the “Lens Cleaning System” patent is a good look at one way Tesla plans to combat one of the most obvious issues of autonomy that utilizes a camera-based system. For Optimus, it could be less needed as it could be manually cleaned by owners. For cars, it seems like a bigger necessity, especially as autonomy nears and Tesla gets close to launching a feature-complete FSD suite.
SpaceX’s Starlink product has just gotten its latest airline adoptee, and the move marks the successful partnership of three of the “Big Four” U.S. airlines.
American Airlines announced on Tuesday that it would utilize Starlink in more than 500 narrowbody aircraft beginning in the first quarter of 2027. These include the Airbus aircraft in its fleet, including the new A321XLR and A321neo.
With the new partnership with American Airlines, Starlink is now present on three of the largest airlines in the country: American, United, and Southwest.
Starlink gets its latest airline adoptee for stable and reliable internet access
Starlink’s VP of Enterprise Sales, Jason Fritch, said:
“We are proud to bring Starlink on board American Airlines, delivering fast and reliable internet to passengers and crew. Whether traveling for leisure or business, Starlink enables a fully connected experience gate to gate, making every flight smoother and more enjoyable.”
Additionally, American Airlines Chief Customer Officer, Heather Garboden, said:
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want. The addition of Starlink solidifies American as a leading airline in keeping passengers connected in flight.”
Starlink has been on a tear over the past year, as it has continued to be adopted by a wide variety of airlines as a more consistent and reliable way to provide WiFi to its passengers. It has already gained a great reputation among residential users, but its biggest commercial application appears to be how it is being used in the air.
American Airlines will adopt Starlink on more than 500 of its narrowbody aircraft beginning in Q1 2027
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want,” said American Airlines Chief… pic.twitter.com/XY2wflycc0
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) May 26, 2026
The only airline of the Big Four not to adopt Starlink thus far is Delta, which chose to opt for the alternative, which is Amazon Leo. CEO Ed Bastian said to Bloomberg that Delta chose Amazon’s product over Starlink’s because “the opportunities, in terms of the improved bandwidth with a much lower price point than what we’ve ever seen from Starlink, will make a big difference.”
Delta will not start installing Amazon Leo until 2028.
“Of course, we expect Starlink will be warning people that we’re going to go with an inferior product,” Bastian said. “But I’m not too worried about partnering with Amazon.”
Tesla Cybertruck’s newest trim level is nearing its first deliveries just a few months after being offered for an incredible deal.
Back in February, Tesla officially launched a new trim of the Cybertruck, the All-Wheel-Drive, starting at just $59,990. It was a lot of truck for the money, especially considering what it offered the Rear-Wheel-Drive variant for last year, which was a total flop.
The $59,990 price that was offered initially was a deal due to its 325-mile range rating, powered tonneau, three bed outlets, Powershare capability, coil springs with adaptive damping for a refined suspension feel, Steer-by-Wire and four-wheel steering, a 6′ x 4′ composite bed, towing capacity of 7,500 pounds, and a powered frunk.
Tesla is now nearing deliveries of this trim, according to watcher Sawyer Merritt, as Tesla has officially started assigning VINs to people who ordered the vehicle initially:
I can confirm that Tesla has officially started assigning VINs to people who initially ordered the $59,990 Cybertruck Dual-Motor AWD, which means first deliveries should start in the coming weeks!
• 325 mile range
• 7,500 lb towing capacity
• 0-60mph: 4.1s
• Bed with… pic.twitter.com/PQwVYbZf6j— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 24, 2026
Earlier this month, we reported on units of the trim being spotted outside Gigafactory Texas by Joe Tegtmeyer.
Tesla Giga Texas buzzing as new Cybertruck appears to enter production
This Cybertruck trim was interesting because it was released basically out of nowhere, priced incredibly well, and gathered many orders in a small amount of time. However, CEO Elon Musk noted just days afterward that the vehicle would only be priced at this bargain level for ten days.
Tesla fans were not happy.
Awful way to treat customers – particularly when they already sent out a marketing email announcing the $59,990 truck…with zero mention of it being a limited-time offer.
— Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_Ryan) February 24, 2026
However, the issues with the pricing strategy have blown over since the February unveiling event, and now that deliveries are near, Tesla fans are anticipating the truck making its way to their driveways soon.
The truck is currently priced at $69,990, and deliveries for new orders are slated for between August and September 2026.
Tesla patent reveals strategy for solving major Full Self-Driving, Optimus issue
SpaceX Starlink gets its latest airline adoptee, grabbing three of the ‘Big Four’
