The Varda space company has released the final minutes of its capsule's descent to Earth. A magnificent spectacle discover in a video that literally warms the atmosphere.
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the Moon on July 21, 1969, millions of people saw them do on their television sets. Since then, the technology for transmitting images from space has evolved considerably and we are able to film events such as solar flares, or even send cat videos to Earth despite a distance of several tens of millions of kilometers. Any excuse is good to attach a camera and capture spectacular images.
On January 14, 2025, the Winnebago-2 (W-2) capsule from the American startup Varda leaves for space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with 130 other payloads such as satellites. As its name suggests, W-2 is the second spacecraft created by the company. Carrying a spectrometer and a pharmaceutical reactor, used in the manufacture of products of the same name, it landed safely in Australia on February 27. And most importantly: it filmed its descent.
Watch this spacecraft enter Earth's atmosphere, images that will get you excited
Varda published a video showing the last 9 minutes of W-2's entry into Earth's atmosphere. The opportunity to first admire the curve of our planet as it passes in front of the lens, before discovering what gives the impression of a rain of fire. Around 2 minutes before the end, we can see the phenomenon start as the capsule hurtles towards the ground at Mach 25, or 25 times the speed of sound.
Read also – This is perhaps the most beautiful photo ever captured from space, a masterpiece signed by an astronaut
Sparks begin to appear in the frame, then they gain in intensity before transforming into an orange deluge taking on red, white, and yellow hues in turn. A spectacle more impressive than some fireworks. Beyond the latter, Varda aims to become a major player in the manufacturing of products in space, including, among other things, medicines.
0 Comments