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Varda Space Industries’ W-2-recovering capsule can be seen shortly after its safe landing in Australia’s Koonibba test area on February 28, 2025. | Credit: Varda Space Industries
Varda Space has successfully landed in Australia that provides critical data that could drive the production in space and hyperschall technologies.
The Startup Vardas Winnebago-2 (W-2) capsule based in California launched Together with 130 other payloads on January 14th on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket, 12 Rideshare Mission on the van. After six weeks in the orbit, the capsule made a fiery jump through Earth’s atmosphereLanding on February 28th in the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, which is operated by Southern Start.
W-2 contained a spectrometer from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and a Varda Enhanced Pharmaceutical Reactor for the company’s inorbit manufacturing plans. The capsule used a heat sign with a thermal insulation system (TPS), which was developed in collaboration with the AMES Research Center of NASA in Silicon Valley.
The W-2 capsule of Varda Space Industries created a fireball on February 28, 2025 during its re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere | Credit: Varda Space Industries
The spectrometer, the optical recording of plasmen in the re-entry environment (Ospree) sensor, is expected to provide the first in-situ-optical emission measurements of the re-entry environment according to Mach 15. The instrument is part of a long -term partnership between Varda and AFRL for testing hyper noon systems and re -entry technologies.
Related: Private Varda Space capsule returns to earth with spatial antiviral medication on board
“We are enthusiastic about having W-2 back on our home planet and proud to support significant re-entry research for our government partners, while we are still building a flourishing basis for economic expansion Low earth ornament“Will Bruy, CEO of Varda Space Industries, said in A opinion.
The 265 pound capsule (120 kilograms) was supported in the orbit by a pioneer satellite bus, which was built by Rocket laboratoryThe power, communication, drive and other necessary skills offered.
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According to officials, the successful return to the earth of W-2 was also a breakthrough for the Australian space sector.
“This return shows the possibility that Australia will be a responsible start and return hub for the global space community and the geographical advantages of our expansive continent from benefits,” said Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian space agency.
The W-2 landing came one year after the company’s first mission, W-1, the landed in Utah In February 2024. The mission saw W-1 in orbit for eight months before delivering an antiviral medicine to earth crystals that was grown in the circulation.
