Varda Space Industries, a commercial space company, has recently made headlines with the release of stunning footage showcasing the journey of their space capsule, the W-1, back to Earth. The capsule’s return trip, which took place on February 21, was a groundbreaking moment for the company as it marked the first time a commercial entity successfully landed a capsule on US soil.
The footage, which was released on various social media platforms including X and YouTube, captures the capsule separating from its carrier satellite in orbit, navigating a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, and finally making a bumpy but successful landing at the Utah Test and Training Range. The W-1 capsule had spent eight months in low Earth orbit, awaiting government approvals before making its historic return.
In addition to the shorter 5-minute edit available on Varda’s social media channels, the company also shared a 28-minute video on YouTube showcasing the entire journey back to Earth. Viewers are able to watch the unedited raw footage on YouTube, giving them a more in-depth look at the capsule’s journey home from low Earth orbit.
The release of this footage has garnered significant attention and praise for Varda Space Industries, as it not only demonstrates the company’s technological capabilities but also highlights the growing presence of commercial space companies in the industry. With more companies like Varda pushing the boundaries of space exploration, the future of commercial space travel is looking brighter than ever.
