Varda's W-3 Capsule Launches Aboard SpaceX, Testing Hypersonic IMU for US Air Force

Varda Space Industries' W-3 capsule, utilizing a Rocket Lab Pioneer platform, launched on a SpaceX Transporter-13 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The capsule carries an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), developed by the US Air Force and Innovative Scientific Solutions Incorporated (ISSI), designed for extreme reentry speeds. This flight marks the IMU's first real-world test at hypersonic velocities, exceeding Mach 25 during reentry. IMUs track motion, orientation, and speed, but commercial versions often lack precision at such speeds. Varda's capsule offers a platform for testing IMU functionality in high-speed environments, benefiting hypersonic research. The W-3 payload is part of the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Prometheus program, which aims to accelerate hypersonic and reentry technology development using commercial platforms. The mission's goal is to establish routine reentry operations, with Varda aiming to make capsule returns as common as launches. The W-3 capsule is slated to land at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, following the successful landing of Varda's W-2 capsule, the first commercial reentry vehicle to land in Australia.