SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket into space on a secret mission as the sun rose off the coast of Florida, testing the first unmanned capsule, Starfall.
The mission was conducted in complete secrecy, and SpaceX did not release details about the payload or its objectives.
The live broadcast of the launch ended after the successful landing of the first stage of the rocket, and no images of the second stage of the rocket or the Starfall capsule were released.
According to environmental assessments by the US Federal Aviation Administration, Starfall is a cylindrical capsule with a high payload capacity.
This capsule lacks a main propulsion system and only uses an attitude control system to adjust its direction, so it is not capable of automatic deorbiting.
Experts consider this mission an important step in the development of future technologies for space transportation and cargo transfer in Earth orbit.
