SpaceX launched a demonstration mission for its new uncrewed reentry capsule, Starfall, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on June 23, 2026. The mission aims to test capabilities for returning cargo from low Earth orbit, supporting future plans for rapid point-to-point delivery through space and scaling in-orbit manufacturing. Details remain sparse, as SpaceX has not disclosed the full mission profile or number of capsules onboard.

The Starfall capsule, described in a Federal Aviation Administration environmental assessment, is cylindrical, about 3.1 meters in diameter and weighing roughly 3,100 kilograms. It can carry up to 1,000 kilograms of payload and is designed to be recovered in the Pacific Ocean after reentry. Unlike Dragon, it lacks a main propulsion system and relies on external vehicles for de-orbit burns, using only an attitude control system for orientation.

After reentry, the capsule separates into two main components: a top plate and a heat shield. Parachutes—drogue, pilot, and main—deploy from the top plate to ensure a safe landing. The technology supports SpaceX’s broader vision of creating a self-sustaining in-space manufacturing economy, potentially serving as a successor to the International Space Station’s research and production capabilities.