SpaceX's first Starfall customer is European mission integrator Space Cargo

SpaceX's Starfall business, aimed at returning payloads to Earth from orbit, has secured its first customer with integrator Space Cargo. The mission, set to launch in 2028, will see Space Cargo's BentoBox system placed inside Starfall, a disk-shaped capsule designed to carry materials in microgravity. Space Cargo CEO Gaume expressed excitement about the potential ton of payloads Starship and Starfall will be able to transport.

The BentoBox will secure up to 1 ton of payloads from Space Cargo's clients, ensuring their safe return to Earth. This marks the beginning of a new industry of capsule reentry services, with SpaceX facing competition from startups like Varda Space. The partnership aims to enable rapid missions as SpaceX targets an unprecedented flight rate for Starship, which is currently nearing routine flights.