SpaceX has secured two European contracts for its Starfall reentry capsule, scheduled for commercial Starship missions in 2028 and 2029. The disk-shaped, uncrewed vehicle is designed to return up to 1,000 kilograms of payload from low Earth orbit to the Pacific Ocean.
Space Cargo Unlimited, based in Luxembourg, booked a 2028 mission to deploy its one-tonne BentoBox space factory. The company currently manages 100-kilogram-class missions and is in discussions with over 100 potential clients, primarily in biotechnology and life sciences.
Germany-based Exolaunch signed a contract for a 2029 Starship flight, marking its first venture into Earth-return services. The firm will aggregate payloads from government, research, and industrial customers, expanding beyond its previous satellite rideshare operations on Falcon 9.
The Starfall capsule measures 3.1 meters in diameter and 0.75 meters in height, with an empty mass of approximately 2,100 kilograms. It utilizes a carbon-fiber heat shield and a parachute system for splashdown, relying on the launch vehicle to establish its reentry trajectory.
SpaceX successfully demonstrated the Starfall vehicle on a Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral on June 23, 2026. While these new bookings target Starship, the missions remain subject to the launch vehicle reaching full operational status.
