W-6
Mission Overview
May 2026
Return Details
Return Complex
Koonibba Test Range
Koonibba, South Australia
Return Date
No earlier than
17 May 2026 (ACST)
Return Timing
During daytime hours (see hazard area timing below)
Return Vehicle
W-6 Capsule
Customer
Varda Space Industries
W-6
The W-6 mission is a joint venture between Varda Space Industries and Southern Launch, and the 6th mission in the W-series.
This mission will provide further opportunities for Varda to test their in-house built components: the hypersonic reentry capsule, the satellite bus, which provides power, navigation and propulsion in orbit, and an ablative heatshield made of C-PICA. Furthering high-cadence, in-orbit manufacturing and re-entry environment research capability.
W-6 will return overland during daytime hours to the Koonibba Test Range. Operated in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation.
Image: (Varda Space Industries)
Mission Summary
The W-6 mission focuses on testing thermal protection technologies. Including a Sandia National Laboratories nose tile embedded with experimental materials to assess performance under real-world hypersonic heating, as well as two NASA-developed shoulder tiles.
All of the W‑series vehicles, including W‑6, are protected by Varda’s C‑PICA heatshield, an ablative material originally developed at NASA Ames and now manufactured in-house by Varda.
The payloads aboard W-6 will generate valuable flight data that supports innovation in reusable reentry vehicles, strengthens national security space capabilities, and underpins the infrastructure needed for frequent and reliable return from orbit.
Image: W-5 back on earth at the Koonibba Test Range, 2026
Community Information
Koonibba Test Range
The Koonibba Test Range (KTR) is located 40km north-west of Ceduna on the West Coast of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Public Viewing
The capsule will be re-entering the atmosphere at high speed during daytime hours. No public viewing areas will be available.
Members of the public are not permitted to enter the Koonibba Test Range at any point during return operations.
Hazard Area Controls
AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS
UTC: Daily 0550 - 0700, 19-20 May 2026
ACST (UTC +9:30): Daily 1520 - 1630, 19-20 May 2026
NOTAM reference numbers: Temporary Restricted Airspace (TRA) C1412/26 and Temporary Danger Area (TDA) C1413/26.
Window for approx.70 minutes.
A Temporary Restricted Area and Temporary Danger Area will be established on the target return date for a window of approximately 60 minutes. Final enforcement timings promulgated through the NOTAM.
As a matter of safety, aircraft are requested to remain outside the declared airspace for the duration of the NOTAM.
Airservices Australia will serve as the Controlling Authority for the Temporary Restricted Area and the contact for the Temporary Danger Area on the day of the return.
Safety broadcasts will be made over the Ceduna Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) in the immediate leadup to the return.
Figure 1 - Coordinates of the Temporary Restricted Area (red) and Temporary Danger Area (blue) airspace restrictions for the W-6 return.
Figure 2 - (Above) view of the airspace restrictions for the W-6 return.
Landowners in the vicinity of the Koonibba Test Range, users of the Yellabinna Wilderness Area, Yellabinna Regional Reserve and Yumbarra Conservation Park, and persons travelling on the A1 Highway between Ceduna and Penong are advised to remain alert that minor pieces of debris from W-6 may return to land in these areas.
Please contact Southern Launch if you think you may have found debris related to the return which poses a traffic risk or other hazard.
GROUND NOTIFICATION AREAS
UTC: Daily 0400 - 0640, 17-20 May 2026
ACST (UTC +09:30): Daily 1330 - 1610, 17-20 May 2026
AUSCOAST Warning reference number [181/26]
A Maritime Hazard Area will be established in the waters south of Ceduna on the target return date, for a window of approximately three hours during the scheduled return time.
As a matter of safety, vessels are requested to remain outside the Maritime Hazard Area for the notified period. Final timings are promulgated as an AUSCOAST Warning by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, see above.
Securite Calls will be also made on VHF Radio Channel 16 and 27 MHz Radio Channel 88 across the Volunteer Marine Rescue Coastal Radio Network notifying of each activation period in the immediate leadup to the return.
The Australian Hydrographic Office will promulgate a separate advisory Notice to Mariners over a larger activity area and for a longer duration, informing vessels of the risk of impacting and floating debris.
Vessels may elect to operate freely within the broader Notice to Mariners area while remaining vigilant of hazards; however, vessels are requested to remain outside of the Maritime Hazard Area during period(s) of activation.
MARITIME RESTRICTIONS
Figure 4 - (Above) Vessels may elect to operate within the Notice to Mariners (Black) promulgated the AHO but will be directed to remain outside of the Maritime Hazard Area (Red) during the re-entry.
Figure 5 - (Above) Coordinates for the Maritime Hazard Area.
Figure 6 - (Above) Coordinates for the Notice to Mariners.
Contact
PRIOR TO RETURN DATE
For any enquiries regarding the W-6 mission ahead of the return date.
Please email media@southernlaunch.space
ON RETURN DATE
Airspace: Airservices Australia will serve as the Controlling Authority on the day of the return.
Maritime: Southern Launch Area Controller +61 499 505 211
General enquiries & media: Southern Launch +61 477 560 298