All articles tagged with #space reentry
A piece of space debris found in Western Australia is likely part of the upper stage of a Chinese Jielong 3 rocket, which reentered Earth's atmosphere on October 18, 2025. The debris, possibly a composite overwrapped pressure vessel, was burning when found, indicating a recent reentry, and is being analyzed by authorities to confirm its origin.
The Exploration Company (TEC) lost a space capsule during re-entry that was carrying ashes of 166 people, along with plant material for a science project, after successfully orbiting Earth twice. Despite re-establishing communication during reentry, the capsule was lost just before parachute deployment, prompting an investigation. TEC expressed regret and hopes families find peace, noting the ashes are now in the Pacific, and this was a historic first reentry attempt.
Varda Space Industries successfully landed its W-Series 1 capsule in Utah's west desert, marking the first-ever commercial space reentry in the US. The capsule, launched into orbit by a SpaceX mission, aims to produce chemical compounds in microgravity for pharmaceutical and material applications. The company's co-founder, with ties to Salt Lake City, expressed excitement about the hometown connection to the landing. The landing was made possible through a Part 450 reentry license from the FAA, signifying a milestone in commercial space activity regulation.