SpaceX Plans First Ever Starship Upper Stage Catch in November
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced plans to attempt capturing both the Starship upper stage and its Super Heavy booster during the vehicle's upcoming fifteenth flight test as early as next month.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
An Ambitious Double-Catch Plan for Test Flight 15
SpaceX is preparing for a historic recovery attempt during the upcoming fifteenth flight test of its Starship vehicle. During the company’s third quarter earnings report Tuesday, CEO Elon Musk announced that SpaceX will attempt to capture both the Super Heavy booster and the upper stage spacecraft, dubbed the "Ship," for the first time ever.
The potential milestone could take place as soon as next month. Musk described the endeavor as a profound technology milestone in the history of civilization consciousness, though he acknowledged that success is not guaranteed on these initial attempts.
Utilizing Chopstick Arms for Mid-Air Retrieval
The company intends to retrieve both major components of the two-stage system by employing the mechanical "chopstick" arms situated on its launch tower. While SpaceX has previously managed to capture the lower Super Heavy booster, the upper stage presents a significantly greater engineering challenge.
Starship stands approximately 120 meters tall with a 9-meter diameter, powered by Raptor engines that burn liquid methane and liquid oxygen. Designed to return directly to the launch site, the system's successful recovery would represent the first time in history an orbital launch vehicle has been fully recovered.
Contasting Flight Dynamics of Boosters and Ships
Catching the upper stage requires addressing significantly different flight dynamics compared to the lower booster. While the Super Heavy booster returns to Earth just minutes after launch, the upper stage travels much higher, farther, and faster as it reaches orbital speeds.
During previous mission profiles, such as Last month’s Starship launch, the spacecraft was designed to spend extended periods in low Earth orbit before executing a de-orbit burn. Engine performance variations and technical adjustments during those missions emphasize the operational complexity involved in orchestrating a simultaneous double catch.
Looking Forward to Future Deep Space Missions
The ultimate objective of SpaceX's development program is to transform Starship into a fully and rapidly reusable orbital launch vehicle capable of supporting crew and cargo transport to the Moon and Mars. Successfully retrieving both the booster and the upper stage would mark a major stride toward realizing that vision.
Despite the inherent risks associated with first-time testing procedures, leadership remains optimistic about the timeline. If the upcoming attempt encounters setbacks, additional flight tests are scheduled through the remainder of the year and into the next to support ongoing development efforts.
Sources
- EngadgetHere's how SpaceX plans to catch Starship's upper stage for the first time
- The VergeSpaceX will try catching Starship and its booster for first time, Musk says
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