Raumfahrt: SpaceX gewinnt ersten Kunden für Rücktransport aus dem All

The United States space company SpaceX has secured its first client for its new commercial service Starfall, according to a report by Reuters. Space Cargo, a firm specializing in space freight integration, has signed a contract for the mission which is planned for the first commercial flight of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft in 2028.

The mission will involve the Starfall service, which is aimed at returning products and other cargo from Earth's orbit. Space Cargo will utilize its "BentoBox" system within the Starfall capsule. This move positions Space Cargo as an integrator within the SpaceX program, with Gaume stating that they plan to book more such missions in the future.

The BentoBox system currently transports 200 kilograms of cargo, but with Starship and Starfall, they aim to carry ton-level payloads from customers, which is their ultimate goal. The return of goods from space is considered a future market, particularly for pharmaceutical research or the manufacturing of fiber optic cables in microgravity conditions.

SpaceX's billionaire owner, Elon Musk, is competing with smaller providers such as Varda Space from the United States and the German startup ATMOS Space Cargo.