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Varda Space Industries Successfully Launches Fifth Mission W-5

11/29/2025

49 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Varda Space Industries announced on November 28 that its fifth mission, W-5, successfully reached orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-15.
W-5 operates alongside W-4, which launched in June and carries a U.S. government payload for hypersonic testing.
The Air Force Research Laboratory contracted Varda for multiple reentry flights through at least 2028, using its capsules as a cost-effective hypersonic test range.

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Story summary

Varda Space Industries announced on November 28 that its fifth mission, W-5, successfully reached orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-15.
W-5 operates alongside W-4, which launched in June and carries a U.S. government payload for hypersonic testing.
The Air Force Research Laboratory contracted Varda for multiple reentry flights through at least 2028, using its capsules as a cost-effective hypersonic test range.