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Falcon 9
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SpaceXStarfall
In Development
Disk-shaped, uncrewed reentry capsule for returning cargo - such as pharmaceuticals and other orbital-manufacturing output - from low Earth orbit to Earth. SpaceX's entry into the commercial cargo-return market, competing with players like Varda Space Industries.
Latest update Sep 15, 2026
01
Current status
Debut flight launched on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on June 23, 2026, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean about 700 nautical miles off the U.S. West Coast. On September 15, 2026 Luxembourg's Space Cargo said it is Starfall's first known customer, planning to fly a BentoBox payload on Starship's first commercial mission in 2028. The FAA has approved SpaceX for two prototype Starfall reentry tests, with the second still unflown as of August 20, 2026.
02
Specifications3
03
Upcoming milestones1
Announced next steps from SpaceX that mention Starfall.
2028
Fly Starfall's first commercial mission with Space Cargo
Space Cargo CEO Nicolas Gaume told Reuters on September 15, 2026 that the Luxembourg integrator is Starfall's first known customer and will fly its BentoBox payload system inside a Starfall capsule on Starship's first commercial mission, planned for 2028. The box is meant to secure up to about 1 ton of customer payloads through reentry, with nearly half of the first-mission pipeline in life sciences. SpaceX did not comment and has not itself dated Starship's first commercial flight. A second Starfall prototype reentry test, approved by the FAA, remains unflown.
04
In the news2
Space Cargo becomes first known Starfall customer for 2028
Space Cargo CEO Nicolas Gaume told Reuters on September 15 that the Luxembourg mission integrator is the first known customer for SpaceX's Starfall cargo-return capsule. Space Cargo plans to fly its BentoBox system inside a Starfall capsule on Starship's first commercial mission, targeted for 2028, carrying up to about 1 ton of customer payloads, nearly half in life sciences. SpaceX did not comment; Starfall flew a demo capsule on Falcon 9 in June 2026.
SpaceX debuts Starfall cargo reentry capsule
SpaceX launched the debut flight of Starfall, a disk-shaped cargo reentry capsule, aboard a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral at 6:52 a.m. EDT on June 23. About 3.1 meters in diameter and able to carry roughly 1,000 kg, the vehicle is designed to return research and orbital-manufacturing payloads - such as pharmaceuticals - to Earth, splashing down about 700 nautical miles off the U.S. West Coast. The demonstration marks SpaceX's entry into the commercial cargo-return market and is the first of at least two planned Starfall test flights.
05
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