SpaceX launches secret Starfall reentry demo for microgravity research

SpaceX launched the Starfall Demo mission from Cape Canaveral to test a new reentry capsule designed for in-space manufacturing and microgravity research; the flight focused on demonstrating controlled flight and a reentry splashdown in the Pacific, but the company offered few details and did not confirm recovery or future plans, with FAA filings indicating a ~2,100 kg spacecraft that could carry up to ~1,000 kg of payload. The mission marks SpaceX’s entry into the microgravity market alongside startups like Varda Space and ElevationSpace, potentially reshaping the sector.