Chutes.nl

SPACEX's PROJECT STARFALL SpaceX is targeting 6.43 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 23 for a Falcon 9 launch of its Starfall Demo Capsule from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL Starfall is not a traditional conical capsule. It features a flat, circular, disc-like form factor designed for autonomous space manufacturing and rapid global cargo delivery. The circular capsule measures 3.1 meters (10.2 feet) in diameter and 0.75 meters (2.5 feet) in height and has a dry mass of approximately 2,100 kilograms (4,630 lbs). Starfall features a two-part split structure comprising a 1,400 kg aluminum top plate and a 700 kg carbon-fiber heat shield. PAYLOAD CAPACITY Its internal payload bay measures 2.5 × 1.5 × 0.5 meters, allowing Syarfall to transport up to 1,000 kilograms (2,205 lbs) of return cargo. GUIDANCE & PROPULSION Starfall lacks a dedicated chemical propulsion system for independent deorbit maneuvers, relying on its launch vehicle or an external kick-stage to enter a reentry trajectory. For orientation and attitude control, the craft utilizes a network of cold-gas thrusters supplied by nitrogen tanks housed within the heat shield. REENTRY & RECOVERY Starfall uses its carbon-fiber thermal protection system to manage atmospheric heating. Deceleration is handled by a sequence consisting of a pilot chute, a drogue parachute, and a single main parachute. The 700 kg heat shield is mechanically jettisoned shortly before splashdown, after which SpaceX recovery vessels retrieve all spacecraft components from the ocean.