SpaceX Set to Attempt Risky 'Holy Grail' Rocket Catch
SpaceX planned to launch Starship Friday and try to catch both stages with tower arms. The booster would return within minutes, the spacecraft about 22 hours later.
- 3 previous Super Heavy booster catches; the spacecraft has never been caught.
- 26 Starlink satellites will deploy during roughly 14 orbits.
- 2,000-plus degrees Fahrenheit outside the ship during reentry.
- September's flight first reached orbit but recovered no rocket stages.
Why it matters: Clayton Swope of the Center for Strategic and International Studies called full reusability the industry's "Holy Grail." Musk hopes it cuts launch costs by orders of magnitude.
- NASA is paying SpaceX billions to land Artemis astronauts on the moon.
- The return path crosses land over northern Mexico and southern Texas.
How 19 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 10 sources: The center presents the catch attempt as a potential first in rocketry, noting Starship's delays and the uncertain outcome.
Left coverage, 5 sources: The left treats the flight as a bold engineering milestone, while detailing the risks of a reentry over populated land.
What’s next: Controllers can divert the ship to an ocean splashdown or order self-destruct if problems arise.
- NASA will pick Starship or Blue Origin's Blue Moon for Artemis IV.
- SpaceX plans Florida Starship launches within months, Louisiana within years.
- Can a caught spacecraft fly again without extensive refurbishment?
- How soon can SpaceX demonstrate in-orbit refueling needed for moon and Mars trips?
