Summary
SpaceX plans to attempt to catch both stages of its Starship rocket during a test flight from Starbase, Texas. The Super Heavy booster is due to return to the launch tower shortly after liftoff, while the Ship is scheduled to deploy satellites, orbit Earth, and return for a second catch attempt about 22.5 hours later.
Key Facts
- The 124-meter Starship is scheduled to launch from Starbase, Texas, with a 75-minute launch window beginning at 4:45 p.m. local time.
- SpaceX plans to use mechanical arms on its launch tower, nicknamed “chopsticks,” to catch the Super Heavy booster.
- The Ship is scheduled to deploy 26 satellites for the Starlink internet network and complete 14 orbits around Earth.
- SpaceX has caught the Super Heavy booster on three earlier test flights, but has never caught the Ship.
- SpaceX will decide whether to attempt the Ship catch after assessing the vehicle in space; it can instead bring the stage down in the ocean.
- NASA plans to use a version of the Ship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program.
- SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s New Glenn and lander are both part of NASA’s plans for lunar missions.
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
