Key facts
- SpaceX's Starfall reentry vehicle has received FAA environmental review approval for two demonstrations.
- The vehicle is cylindrical, measuring 10.2 feet in diameter and 2.5 feet in height, weighing 4,600 pounds.
- Starfall is designed for cargo, with a payload capacity of 2,200 pounds.
- The U.S. military is a potential customer for the Starfall vehicle's rapid delivery capabilities.
- SpaceX aims to recover the vehicle, including its parachutes and heat shields, after reentry.
SpaceX's new Starfall reentry vehicle has received approval from the FAA's environmental review for two demonstration missions. The company intends to recover the vehicle, including its parachutes and heat shields, to the maximum extent practicable.
Starfall is a cylindrical craft measuring 10.2 feet in diameter and 2.5 feet in height, weighing approximately 4,600 pounds. It has a payload capacity of about 2,200 pounds, for a total weight of 6,800 pounds. Designed exclusively for cargo, Starfall is smaller than SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The first demonstration mission is expected to spend a few hours in low-Earth orbit, though shorter suborbital trajectories are also possible. Starfall is not capable of de-orbiting itself and relies on its launch vehicle for atmospheric reentry guidance. After separation, it uses compressed nitrogen gas to orient its heat shield.
Potential users for Starfall include the U.S. military, which is collaborating with SpaceX on a 'Rocket Cargo' or 'Point-to-Point Delivery' concept using the larger Starship. Starfall could offer a more versatile solution for lighter deliveries compared to the Starship rocket. The military is also exploring similar cargo delivery technologies with Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and Anduril.