Ground teams in Texas will use mechanical launch tower arms to snare both stages of the 124-meter-tall rocket during a single mission. While the lower Super Heavy booster has been caught during three previous tests, the upper Ship stage has only achieved ocean splashdowns to date. Controllers will evaluate the Ship's post-flight condition after it deploys 26 Starlink satellites across 14 orbits before committing to a landing attempt. Demonstrating this dual recovery will help maintain critical delivery timelines for NASA's planned 2027 Artemis III docking mission.
Key points
Successfully recovering both stages would mark the first full retrieval of a spacecraft t…: Successfully recovering both stages would mark the first full retrieval of a spacecraft that has completed an orbital mission.
Flight controllers will inspect the upper stage while it is in orbit before deciding whet…: Flight controllers will inspect the upper stage while it is in orbit before deciding whether to attempt the catch or divert to the sea.
Starship development is pivotal for NASA's Artemis schedule as the agency races against C…: Starship development is pivotal for NASA's Artemis schedule as the agency races against China to put astronauts on the lunar surface.
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SpaceX will attempt to catch both parts of its huge Starship rocket after it launches on its next test flight on Friday.
Elon Musk's company will use the mechanical arms - nicknamed chopsticks - on its launch tower to grab the rocket parts mid-air as they return to Earth.
If successful, this will be the first full recovery of a rocket that's been to space, paving the way for making Starship reusable so it can fly repeatedly.
Nasa will be closely watching the flight: the SpaceX rocket is set to play a vital part in its Artemis programme, which will see astronauts land on the Moon.
The 124m-tall rocket is scheduled to blast off from the Starbase launchpad in Texas at 1645 local time (2245 GMT) with a 75-minute-long launch window.
After six and a half minutes, the first planned catch will be attempted when the bottom part of the rocket - the Super Heavy booster - returns to the launch tower.
The top part of the rocket, called the Ship, will continue its journey to space and…
The aerospace company is preparing to conduct an ambitious test flight of its massive Starship vehicle at the end of the week. Observers consider the mission a critical breakthrough for the space industry, with an analyst emphasizing the immense significance of the event. A successful demonstration could validate pivotal launch technologies currently under development.
Space industry milestones continue to advance as private aerospace operations reach major operational thresholds. Teams are preparing the Starship vehicle for an upcoming test flight aimed at gathering critical flight performance data. These ongoing activities highlight a busy period of spaceflight operational testing and rocket development.
Mechanical tower arms in Texas will attempt to retrieve the 407-foot vehicle's upper stage after 14 orbits, shifting away from previous ocean splashdowns. Perfecting full recovery for both stages is essential for lowering mission expenses and achieving rapid turnaround. These operational milestones underpin future commercial deployments as well as NASA's crewed lunar exploration plans.