US space firm tests hypersonic vehicle navigation during high-speed blackout phase

Varda Space launched its W-6 reentry capsule on SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission from Vandenberg at 4:02 am PT.

The W-6 carried an autonomous navigation system from Rhea Space Activity funded by the US Space Force and AF Research Laboratory to test hypersonic positioning.

Rhea’s system uses onboard cameras and an AutoNav algorithm to match stars and LEO satellites through a reentry plasma sheath when GPS and radio are blocked.