SpaceX will attempt historic catch of returning Starship booster on Sunday
Starship is ready to fly again — and for the first time, SpaceX is going to try to bring the booster back to the launch site to catch it
Starship is ready to fly again — and for the first time, SpaceX is going to try to bring the booster back to the launch site to catch it with a pair of oversized “chopsticks.”
SpaceX's Starship Set to Launch on Sunday: A Major Milestone in the Quest for Reusability
In a surprise move, SpaceX has announced that it will launch its massive Starship spacecraft on Sunday, earlier than expected. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the green light for the test flight, which will mark the fifth in the Starship development program. The launch window opens at 5 AM PST (7 AM local time) from SpaceX's Starbase site in southeast Texas, where thousands of criteria must be met for the catch attempt to occur.
T
The Starship, standing at nearly 400 feet tall, is a crucial component of SpaceX's ambitious plan to make life multi-planetary and support NASA's Artemis mission to return humans to the moon. The spacecraft is designed for rapid reuse, with the goal of recovering both the upper stage (Starship) and the Super Heavy booster, and quickly refurbishing them for future flights. This reusability is a game-changer in the space industry, as it significantly reduces the cost of access to space.
It was successful 💪
The primary objectives for this fifth flight test are two-fold: attempting the first-ever "catch" of the Super Heavy booster at the launch site and achieving an on-target Starship reentry and splashdown in the Indian ocean. The latter goal has already been achieved in the previous test mission in June, but the booster catch is a novel and challenging feat in the history of rocketry. The plan is for the booster to slow to a hover and position itself inside the zone of two "chopstick" arms attached to the launch tower. The arms will then close around the booster and hold it up after its engines stop firing.
In preparation for the launch, SpaceX engineers have been busy conducting numerous tests on the launch tower, replacing the rocket's thermal protection system, updating the ship's software for reentry, and testing the launch pad's water deluge system. The company's ultimate goal is to bring the Starship upper stage back to the landing site, which will be achieved in future test launches. With each flight building on the learnings from the last, SpaceX is on the verge of demonstrating techniques fundamental to Starship's fully and rapidly reusable design.
The live webcast of the test will start around 30 minutes before liftoff (7 AM PST) on SpaceX's website or on X. This is a major milestone in the Starship program, and fans of space exploration are eagerly anticipating the launch and the potential breakthroughs it may bring. The success of this mission will pave the way for future Starship flights, which will ultimately enable humanity to establish a permanent, self-sustaining presence on the moon and beyond.
The Starship program is a testament to SpaceX's innovative spirit and commitment to making humanity a multi-planetary species. With its reusable rockets and spacecraft, SpaceX is revolutionizing the space industry and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. The launch of Starship on Sunday is a major step forward in this journey, and it will be exciting to see the results of this test flight.
Article