SpaceX is set to launch an uncrewed reentry capsule called Starfall from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:43 a.m. EDT Tuesday. The Falcon 9 rocket will carry the capsule on its first mission from Space Launch Complex 40. The company has not disclosed details about the payload or how many spacecraft are involved. SpaceX cut off its public timeline after the booster landing, leaving mission specifics unclear. Live coverage begins an hour before liftoff. The 45th Weather Squadron gives a 95% chance of favorable conditions, with a small risk from cumulus clouds.
The Falcon 9 will use booster B1078, which has flown 28 previous missions including NASA’s Crew-6 and USSF-124. The booster will land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas nine minutes after liftoff. This would be the 157th landing on that vessel and the 628th booster landing for SpaceX. An FAA environmental assessment from May mentioned plans to perform two Starfall reentries to test future transport capabilities, but it’s unclear if this mission includes multiple capsules.
SpaceX has been silent about Starfall’s purpose, similar to its Starshield program. The capsule continues the company’s naming pattern with Starlink and Starship. The final FAA document published in May did not clarify the mission’s goals beyond demonstrating reentry technology. No details about the payload’s contents or destination have been released.
The launch will be the first Starfall mission and the first reentry test for the capsule. SpaceX has not provided timelines for post-launch activities beyond the booster landing. The mission’s success could influence future space logistics, but specifics remain unknown. The FAA’s environmental review did not address potential risks or benefits of the reentry demonstration.
SpaceX’s secrecy around Starfall contrasts with its usual transparency. The company has not shared details about the capsule’s design or how it differs from existing reentry vehicles. The mission’s focus on transport and delivery of goods through space aligns with broader efforts to expand commercial space operations, but concrete information is limited. The launch will be closely watched by space industry observers and regulators.