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Starfall

All articles tagged with #starfall

business1 month ago•8 min saved

Starfall Test Signals Possible SpaceX Revenue, But Not Immediate

SpaceX tested its Starfall delivery capsule in near-Earth orbit, envisioning ultra-fast point-to-point cargo deliveries (about 80 minutes from launch to reentry). The pod carries roughly 2,200 pounds and was carried by a Falcon Heavy upper stage; Starship isn’t yet available for reuse in this context, and SpaceX has provided few details on the test. While Starfall could someday open a new revenue stream, its commercial viability and impact on SpaceX’s valuation remain uncertain and not something investors should count on in the near term.

via The Motley Fool|

#business #point-to-point #reusable-launch

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

SpaceX quietly launches Starfall, a secret microgravity capsule with potential military use

SpaceX quietly launched Starfall, a small, secretive capsule on a Falcon 9. FAA filings describe Starfall as enabling affordable microgravity access and rapid space-based cargo delivery, with each capsule capable of about 1,000 kg of payload and an autonomous deorbit—if any—requiring a follow-on vehicle; it will splash down in the Pacific after a short demo. While rumors point to possible military applications, SpaceX has not confirmed any such use, and the webcast was cut shortly after liftoff.

via Euronews.com|

#defense #microgravity #spaceflight

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

SpaceX Quietly Tests Secret Flying-Saucer Capsule for In-Space Manufacturing

SpaceX quietly launched a small, flying-saucer–shaped reentry capsule named Starfall from Cape Canaveral with a limited livestream and no official confirmation of its mission; the secretive test has sparked speculation about military involvement despite SpaceX's existing Defense Department contracts, and FAA environmental documents describe Starfall as a microgravity lab for in-space manufacturing, though recovery details remain unclear.

via Futurism|

#microgravity #military-aerospace #secret-launch

space1 month ago•3 min saved

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.

via SpaceNews|

#in-space-manufacturing #microgravity #reentry

science1 month ago•45 min saved

SpaceX quietly tests Starfall, a saucer-shaped reentry capsule

SpaceX conducted a secretive test flight of a new saucer-shaped spacecraft called Starfall from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Marketed as a microgravity lab for in-space manufacturing and a rapid global delivery system, Starfall’s mission has sparked questions about military involvement given SpaceX’s defense contracts, with limited livestreaming and details on recovery and future availability remaining unclear.

via Yahoo|

#in-space-manufacturing #reentry-capsule #science

space1 month ago•98 min saved

Starfall Unveiled: SpaceX's Secretive New Return Capsule Explained

SpaceX's Starfall is a disk-shaped return capsule designed to carry about 1,000 kg of payload, lacks a traditional propulsion system, and uses an inert-gas attitude-control system to reenter and splash down in the Pacific via parachutes; FAA documentation notes two demonstration reentries with open-ocean splashdowns off the U.S. West Coast and capsule recovery. It can launch on Falcon 9 or Starship and aims to enable rapid point-to-point space cargo and a scalable in-space manufacturing market, a field also pursued by Varda Space and Outpost Space, with SpaceX targeting thousands of Starfall flights once Starship is fully online.

via Space|

#faa-environmental-assessment #in-space-manufacturing #return-capsule

technology1 month ago•1 min saved

SpaceX Debuts Starfall on First Test Flight for Microgravity Research and Rapid Space Cargo

SpaceX launched the Starfall capsule on its first test flight from Cape Canaveral, a compact two-section vehicle designed to provide microgravity access for research and potential rapid space cargo delivery; about 2,200 lb of payload capacity, it cannot deorbit itself (deorbits via a preset path or another spacecraft) and will splash down in the Pacific. The demo aims to prove affordable, routine microgravity access and hints at Pentagon interest for rapid deployment.

via Axios|

#in-space-manufacturing #microgravity #spacex

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

SpaceX tests Starfall: a new uncrewed reentry capsule for rapid space delivery

SpaceX launched an uncrewed Starfall reentry capsule on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral to demonstrate reentry capabilities and explore concepts like rapid cargo delivery and in-space manufacturing; the mission details remain partly undisclosed, FAA documents indicate two Starfall reentries, and the capsules would be recovered in the Pacific, while the first stage booster landed on a drone ship.

via Spaceflight Now|

#falcon-9 #in-space-manufacturing #reentry-capsule

space1 month ago•96 min saved

SpaceX readies Starfall cargo capsule for first reentry demo on June 23

SpaceX will launch its Starfall cargo capsule on June 23 from Cape Canaveral for the first Starfall reentry demo. The non-propulsive capsule is designed to haul payloads to low Earth orbit and return them to Earth, featuring a dual section with a carbon-fiber heat shield and relying on Falcon 9’s second stage for the deorbit, with a Pacific splashdown planned about 700 nautical miles off the West Coast and the booster targeting an Atlantic droneship landing; a backup window is set for June 24. Starfall can carry up to 2,200 pounds and is intended to retrieve materials from orbital manufacturing for research payloads, not to carry astronauts. The mission follows FAA filings and contrasts with prior smaller reentry efforts by companies like Varda Space.

via Space|

#cape-canaveral #falcon-9 #reentry

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

SpaceX Gears Up for Starfall Demo to Test In-Orbit Manufacturing

SpaceX is set to launch the Starfall Demo, a disk-shaped reentry capsule for in‑orbit manufacturing and cargo delivery, on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on June 23 (backup June 24). FAA filings show Starfall reentries are approved into the Pacific off California, and the capsules can carry up to 1,000 kg with a parachute-based splashdown. If successful, Starfall could kick off mass production in microgravity and compete with Varda Space Industries, while SpaceX reserves options for future Starship launches; live streams are available on SpaceX and X.

via Gizmodo|

#in-orbit-manufacturing #reentry #rocket-launches

technology1 month ago•8 min saved

SpaceX’s Disk-Driven Reentry Demo Could Redefine Orbital Manufacturing

SpaceX plans the first Starfall prototype flight on Tuesday (June 23)—a 3.1 m disk-shaped reentry capsule capable of returning up to 1,000 kg from orbit—carried by Falcon 9 for a reentry, splashdown, and sea-recovery demo. The test will validate the disk geometry, parachute recovery, and retrieval of both the top plate and heat shield, and will explore maintaining telemetry through plasma blackout by mounting Starlink terminals on the vehicle. If successful, Starfall could dramatically lower per-kilogram costs for orbital manufacturing and shift competition away from Varda Space Industries; a second FAA-approved demo and licensing would be needed for commercial service.

via Tech Times|

#orbital-manufacturing #plasma-blackout #spacex

space2 months ago•9 min saved

SpaceX's Starfall Tests Target On-Orbit Manufacturing and Fast Cargo Returns

SpaceX has FAA approval to test two Starfall reentry capsules for in-space manufacturing and rapid space-to-Earth cargo delivery. The 3.1-meter diameter, 2,100-kilogram capsules would reenter from orbit on Falcon 9 or Starship and splash down at sea in the Pacific, carrying up to 1,000 kilograms; FAA documents outline the tests but provide no launch dates, highlighting Starfall's potential to enable a self-sustaining space manufacturing economy and competition with other space-based services.

via Interesting Engineering|

#faa #in-space-manufacturing #space

space2 months ago•4 min saved

FAA clears SpaceX Starfall reentry tests for in-space manufacturing and rapid cargo

The FAA issued an environmental assessment and a record of decision approving two Starfall reentry tests off the California/Mexico coast as SpaceX explores a mass-producible reentry capsule for in-space manufacturing and rapid space-to-Earth cargo delivery, with up to 1,000 kg payload, parachute descent, heat shield jettisoned before splashdown, and boat-based recovery; exact test dates and future missions were not disclosed.

via SpaceNews|

#faa #in-space-manufacturing #reentry