“EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- #Varda Space Industries, the leader in orbital #pharmaceutical processing and hypersonic reentry, announced the successful reentry of its W-6 capsule. The capsule landed safely within the designated recovery zone at the #Koonibba #TestRange in #SouthAustralia, operated by #SouthernLaunch, marking the company's second reentry of 2026.

Similar to Varda's previous missions with Department of War payloads, the #W6 mission was funded through the #Prometheus program, a partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory #AFRL and commercial space entities, which is addressing a national security need to accelerate novel #science and #technology experiments in the extreme #HypersonicReentry environment through a low-cost, high-cadence flight testbed.”

#Straya / #Woomera <https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varda-space-industries-successfully-reenters-w-6-validating-autonomous-navigation-and-advanced-thermal-protection-systems-302775804.html> / #AngryAstronaut <https://youtube.com/watch?v=JEyCttVeqys>

OK I'm from Australia so used to deadly creatures but I've always liked this framing of the issue

#Australia #straya #nature #cohabitation

“Leading #Climate #scientist Professor #SarahPerkinsKirkpatrick, president of the #Australian #Meteorological and #Oceanographic Society, said cutting one-third of the specialised workforce would devastate #CSIRO’s capacity to predict and model the effects of climate change.

“Basically, without the #ACCESS model, we’re running on a dial-up modem,” she said.

In a submission to a #Senate inquiry into CSIRO’s #funding and #resourcing, Science and Technology Australia chief executive #RyanWinn said CSIRO’s work was “deeply embedded in the broader #research ecosystem” in Australia.
“It is a vital partner in projects with universities and industry and hosts critical research infrastructure assets,” Winn said.

“Any reductions to CSIRO’s capacity to maintain this essential support will send far-reaching and enduring ripple effects across the [research and development] system.”

Cost too much, too hard to study and develop, don’t bother. — #Labor

#ClimateEmergency / #Straya <https://smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/csiro-cuts-climate-research-jobs-despite-budget-funding-boost-20260521-p5zzd3.html> (paywall) / https://archive.md/2IYoJ>

Have just encountered the phrase "as blind as a welder's dog"

#Australia #Straya

“Lifting the building on stilts like this also allows air to circulate more freely, as it does with #Murcutt’s own home, the Marie Short house, where itcools the house in the warm months and provides shelter for native wildlife”

How’d ya break your arm?
Oh, got pissed and walked straight out the door 🍷🥴
You got Murcutt’d 🤣

#Architecture / #straya / #EnviromentallyConcious / #LowProfile / #EcoFriendlyMaterials <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/15/australian-home-that-floats-above-the-landscape-glenn-murcutt-lynne-eastaway>

new property manager, fifth email in exchange following a request for a rent increase review and i'm asked her if her offer of a rental reference to 'assist you moving forward' is out of adherence to the rental property managers' ethical code or just her deep affinity with renters broadly

things going well i'm sure

#housing #straya #safeNsound