Falcon 9 Block 5 | Project Starfall Demonstration Mission launch

SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulTechnology

Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | Project Starfall Demonstration Mission
Start: 2026-06-23T10:53:00Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Tue, Jun 23 · 10:53 AM UTC2026-06-23 10:53 UTCSpace Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

Landed

B1078 Landed

The first stage landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas, on its 29th flight.

Worldwide

150th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

75th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 40

35th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

6 d 4 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 10:53 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:0010:15 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0010:37 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:46 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:52 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:52 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:52 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:52 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:0010:15 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0010:37 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:46 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:52 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:52 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:52 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:52 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:0010:53 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:0810:54 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:2510:55 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2810:55 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3610:55 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:0810:56 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return4

T+6:3110:59 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:0211:00 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+8:2511:01 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:4911:01 AMLanding of the first stage

Mission

Note: Mission profile and payload details are TBD.

Demonstration mission for SpaceX’s Project Starfall, which aims to mass-produce reentry capsules designed to autonomously transport valuable customer experiments and other payloads safely back from space to Earth, including for in-orbit manufacturing.

Starfall is a cylindrical shaped capsule approximately 0.75 meters tall with a diameter of 3.1 meters, weighing approximately 2100 kilograms, and capable of carrying 1000 kilograms of payload. It is designed to be carried on Starship flights.

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jun 24 · 1:55 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 23 · 2:07 PM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 23 · 10:53 AM
Liftoff!
hitura-nobad
Jun 23 · 10:38 AM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Jun 23 · 12:29 AM
Now targeting Jun 23 at 10:53 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Jun 22 · 10:30 PM
Updated launch weather, 95% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 19 · 5:12 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 18 · 4:45 PM
Delayed to NET June 23.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 15 · 10:20 PM
Added launch (mission details is TBD).
Cosmic_Penguin

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

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Scan to open on your phone

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SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulTechnology

Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Tue, Jun 23 · 10:53 AM UTC2026-06-23 10:53 UTCSpace Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

Landed

B1078 Landed

The first stage landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas, on its 29th flight.

Worldwide

150th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

SpaceX

75th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 40

35th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

6 d 4 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 10:53 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:0010:15 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0010:37 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:46 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:52 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:52 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:52 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:52 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:0010:15 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of propelland loading
T−35:0010:18 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:0010:37 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:46 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:52 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:52 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:52 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:52 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:0010:53 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:0810:54 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:2510:55 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2810:55 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:3610:55 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:0810:56 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return4

T+6:3110:59 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:0211:00 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+8:2511:01 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:4911:01 AMLanding of the first stage

Mission

Note: Mission profile and payload details are TBD.

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jun 24 · 1:55 AM
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 23 · 2:07 PM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 23 · 10:53 AM
Liftoff!
hitura-nobad
Jun 23 · 10:38 AM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Jun 23 · 12:29 AM
Now targeting Jun 23 at 10:53 UTC
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Jun 22 · 10:30 PM
Updated launch weather, 95% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 19 · 5:12 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 18 · 4:45 PM
Delayed to NET June 23.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 15 · 10:20 PM
Added launch (mission details is TBD).
Cosmic_Penguin

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

Cape Canaveral SFS schedule

Nov13Fri

Amazon Leo (LV-01)United Launch Alliance · Vulcan VC6L · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USALow Earth OrbitTo be determinedTime TBD Nov—NET

Cygnus CRS-2 NG-25SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USALow Earth OrbitTo be determinedNET November

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Never Miss a Launch.

Project Starfall Demonstration Mission

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS