SpaceX plans first attempt to catch Starship and booster

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 13:44 · Archive

SpaceX will attempt to catch both Starship's upper stage and Super Heavy booster in next month's test flight.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced during the company's third quarter earnings report that SpaceX will attempt to catch both Starship's upper stage and Super Heavy booster for the first time in test flight 15, which could occur as soon as next month. If successful, it would represent the first time in history that an orbital launch vehicle has been fully recovered. Musk described the achievement as 'a profound technology milestone in the history of civilization consciousness'.

Starship is a two-stage system standing approximately 120 metres tall with a 9-metre diameter, powered by SpaceX's Raptor engines burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen. The vehicle was designed to return to the launch site, where launch towers equipped with mechanical 'chopstick' arms catch it mid-air. SpaceX has previously caught the Super Heavy booster using these arms, but has yet to attempt capturing the upper stage, which travels higher, farther and faster than the booster.

Musk allowed for the possibility of failure, stating 'success is not guaranteed on these first flights, but I'd say it's more likely than not that this succeeds next flight'. He added that SpaceX has a steady stream of Starship test flights planned through the end of the year and accelerating into 2025. The company's previous test flight saw both stages splash down in the ocean rather than being captured.

How it is being reported

• Here's how SpaceX plans to catch Starship's upper stage for the first timeSpaceX has released a demo showing how it intends to catch Starship's upper stage, which could happen as soon as next month.Engadget · 21 Oct, 13:19
• SpaceX will try catching Starship and its booster for first time, Musk saysSpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company would attempt to catch Starship and its booster next month, with the goal of recovering the entire orbital launch system for the first time. If successful, Musk said, the attempt would mark the first time in history an orbital launch vehicle has been fully recovered. "This is a […]The Verge · 20 Oct, 22:02

In this story: SpaceX · Elon Musk · Starship · Super Heavy

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