Starfall

Starfall (or Project Starfall) is an SpaceX solution for an uncrewed, mass-producible reentry capsule system. It acts as a flying, disc-shaped commercial platform designed to cheaply and repeatedly transport designed to return up to 1,000 kilograms of cargo from orbit. It hopes to open up new space manufacturing as it hopes to reduce the cost by a factor of 30, If cal also be used for point to point cargo. It also will use a Starlink up link to allow full communications including  on re-entry (Only archived on Starship ).

To survive the intense trip home, Starfall relies on its heavy carbon-fiber heat shield to handle the extreme friction and heat of re-entry. Small thrusters will keep it stable in space before a multi-stage parachute system (a drogue chute, a pilot chute, and a single massive main parachute) opens up to slow it down to a soft speed.

SpaceX is preparing to fly its first Starfall prototype on Tuesday,  23td June 2926.