SpaceX unveils Starfall — a platform for experiments and production in orbit
SpaceX has launched the Starfall website — a platform for regular and relatively low-cost experiments in microgravity on low Earth orbit.
Starfall will be able to deliver up to 1000 kg of payload and supply it with power of up to 1 kW. Ethernet is used for data transmission, while Starlink will provide a constant connection with Earth. The platform is also intended for scientific tasks, equipment testing, and the production of goods requiring weightlessness and the vacuum of space.
The duration of operation in orbit can be tailored to the needs of a specific experiment. Among the biomedical tasks are the development of biomaterials, implants, organoids from stem cells, and tissues for repairing damage. Another focus is research in pharmaceuticals.
Microgravity conditions allow for the production of more uniform protein crystals and drug compounds. Starfall is also being considered for materials science work: in an environment with near-zero gravity and vacuum, new materials and semiconductors are planned to be produced.
