USAF and SpaceX successfully test cargo delivery from space

The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) has successfully tested Rocket Cargo capabilities, allowing military units to receive supplies via cargo pods dropped from space. The test was conducted with support from SpaceX during the Bandwagon-5 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket.

• AFRL and SpaceX tested Starfall cargo capsules launched from Cape Canaveral.
• The capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean containing rations, water, and tracking gear.
• The test aims to establish point-to-point delivery without risking aircrews in combat zones.

Starfall capsule specs and testing process

Launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the Starfall capsule successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. The capsule carried mission equipment including MREs, bottled water, a SATCOM tracker, and spare batteries, along with a fit-check for a UNI-PAC III life raft.

Shaped like a hockey puck, the Starfall capsule measures about 10 feet across and can carry up to 2,200 pounds. It uses a carbon fiber heat shield, compressed gas thrusters, and a parachute landing system. Researchers analyzed shock, vibration, and temperature effects on the cargo during reentry.

Future potential of Rocket Cargo delivery

AFRL Technology Transition Office director Adam Remaly highlighted this achievement as critical for rapid global mobility. The Air Force hopes to eventually scale up the capacity to tens of tons using larger SpaceX Starship rockets once they are fully developed.

This logistical capability is vital for the U.S. military to resupply troops over long distances without relying on vulnerable supply lines, particularly in contested regions like the Pacific.