Stranded Supplies From Orbit? Air Force Testing Survival Gear That Drops to Earth

Testing cargo on Starfall

On October 20, SpaceX launched its Starfall reentry capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket during the company’s Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. The disk-shaped vehicle is designed for research in microgravity and point-to-point cargo delivery.

Starfall can carry up to 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms). Its heat shield is built for the high temperatures of atmospheric descent, while a main parachute and pilot and drogue parachutes are intended to support a relatively soft landing.

What the pods carried

AFRL researchers loaded experimental cargo pods with mission equipment and sensors that recorded shock, temperature and vibration during the journey. The team focused on the durability of electronics and survival supplies.

The equipment included batteries, a satellite communications-enabled tracker, a reverse-osmosis water desalination system, emergency medical supplies and survival gear. Engineers also checked whether a UNI-PAC III life raft could fit inside the capsule for future testing.

The air-droppable raft holds 20 people. Each person’s 72-hour survival kit includes items such as bottled water, food, duct tape, space blankets, matches and a flashlight.

A possible role in emergencies

The demonstration is intended to show how sensitive equipment can be protected during rocket launch and atmospheric reentry. Its results will inform orbital delivery systems being developed through AFRL’s Rocket Cargo program.

The military’s envisioned uses include support for missions in contested environments, rescue and disaster relief, and rapid responses to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. The system is not intended to replace conventional transport altogether.