USAF and SpaceX drop survival kit from orbit

On October 20, 2026, AFRL and SpaceX tested orbital cargo delivery: a Starfall capsule 3.1 m across dropped a UNI-PAC III inflatable liferaft with a survival kit. The Rocket Cargo program aims to deliver tens of tonnes of payload per launch to remote locations.

• The Starfall capsule carries up to one tonne and uses a parachute and cold-gas thrusters
• The kit included a desalinator, MRE rations, a beacon, first aid and blankets
• AFRL aims to scale delivery to tens of tonnes per launch