SpaceX Falcon 9 to launch Starfall reentry capsule on Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission

1. What happened

   According to Spaceflight Now, SpaceX is set to launch a Starfall reentry capsule carrying 31 customer payloads on the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. A tech-insider headline describes the Starfall capsule as weighing 2,100 kg, but the other sources do not give that figure.

2. When it started

   Spaceflight Now's live coverage is dated October 18, 2026, and a Starlust headline says the launch is planned for the following day. The exact launch time is not stated in the provided sources.

3. How it spread

   Starlust reports that this is the second time SpaceX is launching a Starfall return capsule on a Bandwagon-5 mission. The sources do not describe the rocket's flight profile or the capsule's recovery plans in detail.

4. Why it matters

   The launch is a rideshare mission, which carries many customer payloads on one flight, and it draws attention because of the reusable Starfall return capsule. Details beyond the source headlines were not available to verify.