The Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule returned to Earth in Koonibba in South Australia on

Jan. 29

, 2026, with the protection of a heat shield made of C-PICA, a cutting-edge material licensed from NASA and manufactured by Varda.

The capsule’s successful return marks the first time a capsule protected entirely by Varda-made C-PICA has come back to Earth.