Rocket Lab USA (RKLB, Financial) shares climbed about 8% on Wednesday after the company supported the third successful return of Varda Space Industries' W‑3 capsule.
This marks Rocket Lab's second Earth‑return mission in two months using its Pioneer spacecraft. The W‑3 capsule touched down at Southern Launch's Koonibba Test Range in South Australia after 60 days in orbit.
Since February 2024, Rocket Lab has managed three of four contracted W‑series missions. The inaugural W‑1 effort was the first private space‑manufacturing return outside the International Space Station, landing at Utah's Test and Training Range.
Each Pioneer spacecraft provides power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control for Varda's 120 kg capsules. Built and tested at Rocket Lab's Long Beach facility, the modular design uses in‑house star trackers, reaction wheels, and composite structures to enable rapid re‑entry.
“Delivering three missions in just over a year highlights our rapid‑response capability,” said CEO Sir Peter Beck. Varda's vice president of reentry testing, Dave McFarland, added that the pace demonstrates a reliable low‑Earth‑orbit manufacturing solution.
Rocket Lab is now preparing its fourth Pioneer for Varda's next mission while advancing its Electron launch vehicle and Neutron heavy‑lift rocket for future orbital services.
