W-5 was on Transporter-15, right? Do we have confirmation that it is operating?
We can confirm that W-5 is operating nominally on orbit.
Optical emission spectroscopy measurements of the reentry shock layer can provide invaluable information about the dynamic aerothermal chemistry during atmospheric reentry and yield critical data needed to improve fluid dynamics modeling of reentry systems. On 28 February 2025, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory successfully executed the Optical Sensing of Plasmas in the ReEntry Environment (OSPREE) experiment using Varda Space Industries’ W-2 hypersonic test-bed vehicle, obtaining in situ shock-layer radiative emission measurements during reentry from an altitude of 105 km down through 50 km, encompassing a range of Mach numbers between 29.5 and 15.0. We present a summary of the reconstructed trajectory and the optical emission spectra obtained during flight, noting key emissions pointing to evolving shock-layer thermochemistry and interactions between the flowfield and vehicle thermal protection system. Temporal evolution of the spectral radiance of key molecules (CN, C2 , CH) and atoms (O, O+ , N, and H) is analyzed across the flight trajectory. Rotational and vibrational temperatures from spectral fits are computed to provide thermometric measurements of the shock layer over time.
W-4 launched June 23, 2025 and we are excited to announce it’s coming home soon. Expect more updates.
Varda Space Industries@VardaSpaceA W-4 update: After two on-orbit maneuver burns, we waved off a third reentry burn so we can further evaluate the propellant feed system. The spacecraft is safe and stable in its orbit. The next reentry opportunity for W-4 is after W-5's reentry next month. More updates to come on our ever-expanding fleet.8:21 PM · Dec 16, 2025
A Temporary Restricted Area and Temporary Danger Area will be established on the target return date for a window of approximately 50 minutes. Final enforcement timings will be promulgated through the NOTAM.
2026 preview. Buckle up.
Authorization to provide communications for the WSERIES7 Satellite.Develop flight heritage for the WSERIES7 spacecraft and subsequent reentry of a small spacecraft capsule, that will make a terrestrial landing under parachutes.Start Date: 06/01/2026End Date: 11/30/2026
The Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) have announced the award of a Task Area 3 under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program. This award was given to Stratolaunch and Varda Space Industries.The Department of War (DoW) TRMC established the MACH-TB program to create an affordable flight test bed that would rapidly increase hypersonic flight test capacity. Subsequently, MACH-TB 2.0 was released in 2024 to enable scalable hypersonic flight testing supported by a pool of launch service providers from the commercial space industry. MACH-TB 2.0 hit the ground running in late 2024 with the award of Task Area 1 to Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, who is leading Engineering, Integration, and Testing (SEIT) for the program.Task Area 3 is set to expand upon the traditional missile testing paradigm by including Reusable/Recoverable/Innovative (RRI) flight test solutions. Stratolaunch and Varda will conduct RRI launch services and provide RRI launch and test vehicles. This effort will eventually work in tandem with Task Area 2. When awarded, Task Area 2 will focus on providing additional solutions for hypersonics testing capabilities, including test vehicles for experiments, integration, and prototyping.“This award marks an important milestone in advancing the nation’s hypersonics testing ecosystem. By expanding into reusable and recoverable flight test solutions, MACH-TB 2.0 is enabling faster, more affordable, and data-rich testing that will accelerate innovation across the hypersonics community,” said Tony Kestranek, VP of S²MARTS at NSTXL.The creation and testing of RRI test solutions under Task Area 3 will move the program towards the DoW goal of achieving a cadence of 50 hypersonic flight tests annually. Once accomplished, the MACH-TB 2.0 program will accelerate hypersonic technology maturation and transition to achieve national strategic goals.S²MARTS, a rapid Other Transaction (OT) agreement vehicle sponsored by NSWC Crane is an ideal acquisition solution for the MACH-TB program as it provides access to a large pool of hypersonics innovators.“This is what the S²MARTS OTA is all about. We’re proud to deliver the speed, flexibility, and collaboration necessary to connect Government priorities with the cutting-edge capabilities of industry leaders,” added Kestranek.S²MARTS is NSWC Crane’s trusted rapid acquisition vehicle, capable of expediting project solicitations with flexible agreements. Through MACH-TB 2.0, the S²MARTS OTA ensures that groundbreaking hypersonic technologies transition from concept to the warfighter at a pace that matches the urgency of the mission.
Jonathan McDowell@planet4589The @VardaSpace W-5 spacecraft landed at Koonibba Test Range on Jan 29. They haven't released the landing time yet, but the TLEs show a pass over Koonibba at 1353 UTC so I guess landing was close to 1400 UTC
Varda Space Industries@VardaSpaceThe W-5 mission landed safely at the Koonibba Test Range operated by @SouthernLaunch. This is the first reentry of Varda’s next-generation satellite bus, which we designed specifically to meet the demands of both long-duration orbital pharmaceutical processing and reentry.The W-5 flight carried a payload for the U.S. Navy in partnership with @AFResearchLab and was also equipped with a heatshield made in Varda’s El Segundo headquarters from C-PICA, an ablative material that has been used on all the W-series capsules and was originally developed at @NASAAmes Research Center.Key highlights of the W-5 mission include:· End-to-End Autonomy: The mission was a successful demonstration of the Varda-built bus in executing orbital maneuvers, concluding in a precise deorbit burn.· High-Fidelity Recovery: Safe landing and rapid recovery of the customer payload for immediate post-flight analysis saves time and offers customers options for iterative development.· Hypersonic S&T: The unique aerothermal chemistry of the reentry environment is impossible to fully simulate on the ground, and flight testing is the best way to advance understanding of the reentry environment.W-5's success reinforces the advantage of building the entire integrated system in-house. By owning the spacecraft, the capsule, and the mission operations end-to-end, we can iterate faster, fly more often, and reliably bring complex manufacturing processes back to Earth.
Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule separating from the satellite bus, ready to touch down at the Koonibba Test Range. Video captured by Koonibba resident Stephanie Dudley.
At 12:09am, the capsule separated from its spacecraft high above Antarctica, and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at an astonishing 30,000km per hour before landing gently under parachute at Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range.Despite patchy cloud cover, eagle‑eyed locals from the Koonibba community and Ceduna managed to capture W‑5’s spectacular return, alongside world‑renowned South Australian astrophotographer William Godward.
The company's latest space return follows the signing of a landmark agreement between Southern Launch and Varda Space Industries at the International Astronautical Congress 2025. Their deal will now see 19 more Varda return missions to the Koonibba Test Range — a transformational boost for sovereign capability and regional innovation.
Richard Cordaro@rrichcord·The W-5 spacecraft landing was detected by magnetic anomaly at the Alice Springs magnetometer station (Code ASP) at 14:17. Magnetic signal travel speed uncertain, so actual landing was a bit earlier.
The W-5 capsule reentered at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia on Jan. 29, 20260:00 - Separation from Varda's bus0:13 - Post-separation Coast6:50 - Sunset on the Capsule7:27 - Post-separation Coast Again8:05 - Atmospheric Reentry9:33 - Heat Pulse9:49 - Peak Heating10:09 - Thermal Deceleration
