SpaceX Starfall
Space capsule type for cargo delivery from space
Starfall is space capsule class designed to return payloads to Earth from orbit/near orbit, developed by SpaceX. The vehicle intends to provide uncrewed, point-to-point cargo delivery of earth and space-manufactured products by providing atmospheric reentry and recovery. Starfall builds on SpaceX experience with Dragon capsules and Starship reentry technologies.
01Design
SpaceX Starfall has a circular, disk-shaped form measuring 3.1 m (10 ft) in diameter and .75 m (2 ft 6 in) in height. Its empty mass is 2,100 kg (4,600 lb). Starfall carries up to 1,000 kilograms of payload in a volume of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) by 1.5 by 0.5 meters and a total mass of about 3,100 kilograms. The vehicle consists of a top plate with maneuvering thrusters and a heat shield that jettisons before a parachute assisted splashdown. It can be carried to orbit by either Starship or Falcon 9.
| Diameter | 3.1 m |
| Height | 0.75 m |
| Empty mass | 2,100 kg |
| Payload mass | up to 1,000 kg |
| Payload volume | 2.5 × 1.5 × 0.5 m |
| Total mass | ~3,100 kg |
| Launch vehicles | Falcon 9 or Starship |
02Operations
Starfall can loiter in space indefinitely. Reentry follows a pre-planned path. Initial tests splash down typically 1,300 km (810 mi) kilometers west of the U.S. or Mexico. Recovery teams retrieve the capsule, heat shield, and parachutes. Operations could expand to support point-to-point delivery for Earth-produced goods. Starship can carry multiple Starfall units to orbit in one launch.
03Applications
Starfall targets two main applications:
- Point-to-point delivery of critical cargo on short timelines
- Delivery from orbit for microgravity manufacturing
In-space production may benefit pharmaceutical and advanced material production such as single crystal optical fiber, and even bio-printed human organs, because some materials cannot be produced in the presence of gravity. Military applications include fast global resupply. Starfall offers smaller capacity than Starship cargo variants, but also requires no landing infrastructure. SpaceX Rocket Cargo contracts with the U.S. Air Force target larger point-to-point deliveries. Targets reach up to 100 tons.
04Relation to Starship
Starship is intended to provide heavy-lift capability to orbit. Starfall is designed to handle precise return of smaller payloads. Starship features a large payload bay for deployment of satellites and cargo. Its heat shield is designed for rapid reuse, including catch by launch tower arms. Starship payload capacity may exceed 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit in reusable configuration. Starfall complements this capability by addressing return logistics for orbital assets.
05History
SpaceX revealed Starfall plans through FAA filings in 2026. The agency issued final environmental approval on 15 May 2026, for two test missions. These tests were designed to assess reentry, splashdown, and recovery operations to clear the way for safety licensing reviews. SpaceX launched the first Starfall demonstration mission on a Falcon 9 rocket on 23 June 2026.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “SpaceX Starfall”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Starfall capsule.png by SpaceX, Public domain
- Starfall Demo Launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (9767714).jpg by U.S. Space Force photo by Gwendolyn Kurzen, Public domain
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