Starfall is a proposed vehicle designed to return payloads to Earth from orbit/near orbit. It was designed by SpaceX. The vehicle intends to provide uncrewed, point-to-point cargo delivery of earth and space-manufactured products by providing safe atmospheric reentry and recovery.
Development
SpaceX is developing Starfall to expand commercial space activities. The vehicle is intended to meet the need for reliable return of high-value payloads from Earth orbit. Starfall builds on SpaceX experience with Dragon capsules and Starship reentry technologies. It meshes with efforts such as the U.S. Department of Defense Rocket Cargo program. That program explores rapid global cargo transport.
Design
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.[1] Its empty mass is 2,100 kg (4,600 lb).[1] 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.[1] The vehicle consists of a top plate with maneuvering thrusters and a heat shield that jettisons before a parachute assisted splashdown.[1] Starfall reaches orbit as a payload on Falcon 9 or Starship. The design focuses on precision delivery to specific locations, supporting rapid delivery for critical cargo. It can be carried to orbit by either Starship or Falcon 9[2]
| 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 |
Operations
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.[2]
Applications
Starfall targets two main applications:[3]
- 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.[4][3]
Relation to Starship
Starship provides heavy-lift capability to orbit. Starfall handles 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 exceeds 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit in reusable configuration. In-orbit refueling extends range for lunar and Mars missions. Starfall complements this capability by addressing return logistics for orbital assets.
SpaceX Rocket Cargo contracts with the U.S. Air Force target larger point-to-point deliveries. Targets reach up to 100 tons.
History
SpaceX efforts in cargo return began with Dragon spacecraft. These support NASA missions to the International Space Station. Dragon carries pressurized and unpressurized cargo to Earth via parachute splashdown. Starfall extends this capability with a new form factor and applications.
SpaceX revealed Starfall plans through FAA filings in 2026. The agency issued final environmental approval on May 15, 2026, for two test missions. These tests clear the way for safety licensing reviews. These tests are designed to assess reentry, splashdown, and recovery operations.[1]
Companies such as Varda Space conduct similar microgravity manufacturing returns. Inversion Space and Armos Space Cargo, have also launched their reentry vehicles on Falcon 9.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Foust, Jeff (May 31, 2026). “FAA documents outline SpaceX plans for Starfall reentry vehicles”. Space News. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ^ a b c d Young, Chris (June 1, 2026). “SpaceX to test Starfall vehicle for space manufacturing, cargo return”. Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ^ a b Prophet, Chris (September 5, 2025). “SpaceX Project Starfall”. Chris’s Substack. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ^ Easley, Mikayla (November 21, 2024). “Space Force eyes SpaceX’s Starship for future rocket cargo delivery missions”. DefenseScoop. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
External links
- “SpaceX Plans Starship Program For In-Orbit Drug Research”. Bloomberg.
- FAA (May 2026). “Final Environmental Asessment for SpaceX Starfall Reentry Vehicle Operations in the Pacific Ocean”. drs.faa.gov. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- Pashankar, Sana; Ludlow, Ed; Porter, Kiel (2025-07-15). “SpaceX plans Starship program for in-orbit drug research”. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-06-03.