US Air Force tests SpaceX Starfall for rapid orbital cargo delivery

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has conducted an operational test for its Rocket Cargo research and development program using a SpaceX Starfall reentry capsule. Launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station via a Falcon 9 rocket, the mission aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using large liquid-propellant rockets for rapid, point-to-point global transport of materials without requiring traditional runways or road infrastructure.

The Starfall module, a disk-shaped vessel approximately 10.2 feet in diameter, is designed to carry up to one tonne of cargo. During this test, the capsule transported modular containers equipped with telemetry sensors to monitor temperature, shock, and vibration. The payload included electronic equipment, satellite tracking systems, batteries, reverse osmosis desalinators, and medical supplies, as well as a compatibility check for a UNI-PAC III life raft.

The Rocket Cargo program seeks to move dozens of tons per launch to hostile or isolated environments, providing solutions for disaster relief, chemical or biological emergency responses, and military logistics. By utilizing suborbital trajectories or rapid reentry, the technology aims to significantly reduce the time required to deliver critical supplies to distant locations globally.