Jaw-dropping raw footage shows spacecraft ripping through the atmosphere as it reenters Earth at Mach 25
Published on Feb 04, 2026 at 9:16 AM (UTC-5)
by Grace Donohoe
Last updated on Feb 04, 2026 at 9:30 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Space exploration continues to quite literally hit new highs, and this footage shows a spacecraft zooming back down to Earth.
After completing a mission, the craft returned to Earth and the views are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
As well as hitting speeds of Mach 25, the journey ticked off a bunch of firsts for Varda Space Industries.
From sparks to a 360-degree view of planets, its voyage back to Utah will make your jaw drop.
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From outer space back to Earth
Meet the W-1 spacecraft from Varda Space Industries.
The unique space exploration device was launched way back in June of 2023 and was the first commercial spacecraft to eventually land on a military test range.
W1’s whole mission was in aid of ‘pharmaceutical processing’ and was the first to reenter under a Part 450 license that was approved by the FAA.
While on its mission, the spacecraft grew ‘crystals of Form III of the antiretroviral drug ritonavir’, which has been known to be a HIV treatment.
The capsule flew at an altitude of over 300 miles (500 kilometers) to get the job done.
After completing the mission, the W-1 came back to Earth in February 2024 and landed at the Utah Test and Training Range.
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Related
Varda shared footage of the flight
A camera installed inside the W-1 spacecraft captured the re-entry at a mighty Mach 25 before it deployed a parachute to land.
Before the descent, the spacecraft came apart from the satellite it had been traveling with.
As you can see in the video, the capsule was surrounded by sparks for part of the journey.
Missions like this are important to help us understand what really lies in space and what benefits we can truly reap.
You can watch the spacecraft come back to Utah above, and even catch the full-length video here.
Beginning her career as a lifestyle reporter and social-media manager, Grace joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025. Since coming on board, has thrown herself into the busy daily writing schedule. Her editorial sweet spots include writing about luxury properties and the quirky features inside them that the one percent are investing in, as well as groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.
