SpaceX has secured two European commercial contracts for its Starfall return capsule, which is designed to transport up to 1 ton of cargo from orbit. The capsule will be integrated into regular Starship missions to support pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and material manufacturing research.
Space Cargo Unlimited has reserved a dedicated mission for 2028. The company plans to deploy a 1-ton orbital factory based on its BentoBox platform, scaling up from its current 100 kg cargo capacity. Space Cargo Unlimited is currently in discussions with over 100 potential clients, with 40% of them operating in the life sciences and biotech sectors.
The German firm Exolaunch has booked a separate mission scheduled for 2029. Acting as an integrator, Exolaunch will consolidate various experiments and production modules from pharmaceutical companies, research centers, and government organizations into a single flight.
The Starfall capsule successfully completed its maiden flight in June aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Following this initial test, the technology is now transitioning to a commercial operational phase as part of the Starship launch program.
