A SpaceX Falcon 9 let out a loud, continuous rumble early Tuesday morning, announcing the launch of the company’s new mysterious Starfall spacecraft.
“SpaceX has developed a new spacecraft called Starfall, which is at its core a microgravity lab researchers and entrepreneurs can leverage to develop their products and innovations,” SpaceX Avionics Supply Chain Engineer Zachary Luppen said during the June 23 launch broadcast
The launch occurred 6:53 a.m. June 23 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
A final Federal Aviation Administration Environmental Assessment released in May describes the Starfall capsules as small, disk-shaped vehicles roughly 2.5 feet tall. They are designed to orbit Earth before returning by parachute to the Pacific Ocean.
Starfall could help carry forward research now conducted on the International Space Station, supporting pharmaceutical and materials development in microgravity after the ISS is deorbited. SpaceX also plans to utilize Starfall for rapid point-to-point cargo transport, according to the FAA document, but details remain limited.
Starfall “will enable affordable, routine access to the microgravity environment for scientific research and in-space manufacturing,” Luppen said.
Luppen said the objective of the demo mission was to evaluate performance of the spacecraft.
The first stage booster, which saw its 29th flight, landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. No Brevard County sonic booms were heard.
When is the next SpaceX launch from Florida?
The next launch from Florida is set for no earlier than 10:25 p.m. Sunday, June 28 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission will be a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the SiriusXM SXM-11 satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
If needed, SpaceX has until 2:25 a.m. Monday, June 29 to make the liftoff.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches Starfall demo mission from Cape Canaveral. See photos.
Reporting by Brooke Edwards, Florida Today / Florida Today
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By Brooke Edwards, Florida Today | USA TODAY Network
