SpaceX is scheduled to launch its uncrewed Starfall re‑entry capsule on the Bandwagon‑5 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station before sunrise on Monday. The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 during an hour‑long window that opens at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 UTC) and will follow a southeasterly trajectory after clearing the pad.
Launch window and weather outlook
Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage beginning roughly an hour before liftoff. The 45th Weather Squadron has projected a 55 percent chance of acceptable weather for the launch window, noting that a cold front moving across southern Florida will generate gusty winds that are “approaching constraints” for the vehicle. The forecast also highlights a moderate to high risk that conditions at the first‑stage recovery site could be unsuitable. Launch weather officers anticipate occasional coastal showers, describing them as shallow, low‑topped, and partly stratiform, while noting that the Cumulus Cloud Rule is a secondary concern.
Booster and landing details
The mission will use Falcon 9 first‑stage booster B1085, marking the booster’s 19th flight. B1085 previously supported launches for NASA’s Crew‑9, Fram2, Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1, RRT‑1, SXM‑10, SXM‑11, MTG‑S1, EchoStar 25, and ten batches of Starlink satellites. Approximately nine minutes after liftoff, the booster is slated to attempt a landing on the droneship “A Shortall of Gravitas.” If successful, the landing would represent the 167th touchdown on that vessel and the 672nd Falcon booster landing overall.
Payload roster
The Bandwagon‑5 flight will carry a total of 32 payloads, including the Starfall capsule and 31 customer payloads. Twenty of the customer payloads have been manifested by multinational mission manager Exolaunch. Among those are four radio‑frequency monitoring satellites built by Virginia‑based HawkEye 360, four communications satellites from Finnish micro‑satellite company Iceye, and six navigation satellites from California‑based Xona Space Systems.
SpaceX has not disclosed the specific payloads that will be housed inside the Starfall capsule. The capsule, first unveiled in June, was kept under wraps until shortly before the earlier test flight, when SpaceX released only a rendering. Zachary Luppen, an avionics supply‑chain engineer at SpaceX and commentator for the June 23 broadcast, described Starfall as “a microgravity lab researchers and entrepreneurs can leverage to develop their products and innovations,” emphasizing the broader potential of microgravity research for life on Earth.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration environmental assessment, the Starfall vehicle measures about 0.75 m (2.5 ft) in height, 3.1 m (10.2 ft) in diameter, and weighs roughly 2,100 kg (4,600 lb). The capsule is capable of supporting up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of payload mass.
Other re‑entry vehicles on board
Bandwagon‑5 also carries Varda Space Industries’ W‑Series 7 spacecraft, which is roughly one‑third the size of Starfall. Although named W‑7, it is Varda’s ninth re‑entry capsule, following the W‑8 and W‑9 missions that launched earlier this month on Transporter‑18. The W‑7 capsule will transport a cancer‑targeting drug called Protac to investigate whether microgravity can improve its solubility, a factor that could enhance the efficacy of protein‑degrading molecules for cancer treatment.
In addition, the mission includes the Starburst‑1 demonstration from Portal Space Systems Inc. The 260 kg spacecraft is designed to execute orbital maneuvers and accommodate a customer payload of up to 50 kg. Portal states that the demo is fully funded by the company to prove capability ahead of commercial missions, which are planned to begin in 2027.
Overall, the Bandwagon‑5 rideshare mission showcases a diverse mix of microgravity research platforms, communications and navigation satellites, and experimental re‑entry capsules, highlighting the growing commercial demand for low‑cost access to low‑Earth orbit.
Steve Lopez is a Senior Editorial Columnist and Health & Public Policy reporter for News Raise. Steve focuses on healthcare advancements, medical technologies, and public health policies.
