SpaceX prepares Starfall test as it targets global cargo logistics edge
A Falcon 9 launch from Florida will test the Starfall pod, with the FAA approving two demonstrations for critical cargo and in-space manufacturing materials.
SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday morning to test the Starfall, a new reentry vehicle designed for global point-to-point cargo delivery from low-Earth orbit. The mission, which opens its launch window at 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC), involves placing the vehicle into orbit where it will circle the planet twice before the upper stage releases it for reentry.
The Starfall vehicle is a saucer-shaped, cylindrical pod with a diameter of 10.2 feet and a height of 2.5 feet. Weighing approximately 4,600 pounds, it carries a payload capacity of about 2,200 pounds, resulting in a total reentry weight of 6,800 pounds. Unlike the Crew Dragon spacecraft used for astronauts, Starfall is designed exclusively for cargo and relies on its launch vehicle for atmospheric guidance, as it lacks the capability to de-orbit itself.
Following separation, the disc-shaped vehicle utilises compressed nitrogen gas to orient its heat shield correctly for reentry. It targets a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 800 miles west of California. Airspace and maritime warning notices have been issued to direct pilots and sailors away from the impact zone, underscoring the operational scope of the test.
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved two Starfall reentry demonstrations, citing the vehicle’s potential for the rapid transport of critical cargo and materials for commercial in-space manufacturing. While the agency did not specify whether these demonstrations would occur on one or two missions, it noted SpaceX’s intention to recover the vehicle, including parachutes and heat shields, to the maximum extent practicable.
This development positions SpaceX to potentially gain an early advantage in the emerging space logistics sector. The US military is already exploring similar concepts, such as the Pentagon’s Rocket Cargo initiative, while other firms like Blue Origin and Rocket Lab are also developing global cargo delivery technologies. Starfall offers a potentially more versatile option for lighter deliveries compared to SpaceX’s larger Starship rocket.
