Tag: hypersonic
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Varda lands third capsule with hypersonic flight data
Varda Space Industries has successfully recovered its third reentry capsule, marking a critical milestone for both commercial in-space manufacturing and defense applications. The W-3 mission capsule landed May 8, 2026, carrying hypersonic flight test data that could accelerate development of next-generation defense systems. The recovery validates Varda’s manufacturing-to-Earth return capability at 120 kg payload capacity…
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Varda’s drug-cooking Winnebago will be remembered as a space pioneer
Varda Space Industries is finally able to celebrate. For nearly eight months, the in-space manufacturing company’s first mission was essentially stranded in low-Earth orbit, but not because of any technical malfunction or a restriction imposed by the laws of physics. Instead, the spacecraft couldn’t return to Earth until Varda and three government entities—the US military,…
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SpaceX launches military satellites tuned to track hypersonic missiles
Two prototype satellites for the Missile Defense Agency and four missile-tracking satellites for the US Space Force rode a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket into orbit Wednesday from Florida’s Space Coast. These satellites are part of a new generation of spacecraft designed to track hypersonic missiles launched by China or Russia and perhaps emerging missile threats…
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Here’s what we know about a mysterious launch from Florida this week
Thursday update: The US military confirms it scrubbed a planned hypersonic missile test Wednesday. The test has not yet been rescheduled. Here’s the full statement from a spokesperson from the Office of the Secretary of Defense: “On September 6, the Department planned to conduct a flight test at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida to inform…