Skip to content

The Actual News

Stay informed without the news wearing you out.

With Starship catch, SpaceX still shows it can dazzle the world

With Starship catch, SpaceX still shows it can dazzle the world

Summary

SpaceX’s Starship upper stage returned from a flight around Earth and was caught by the launch tower at Starbase, Texas. The test demonstrated a method for recovering the upper stage that SpaceX aims to make rapidly reusable.

Key Facts

  • Starship’s upper stage flew around Earth multiple times before returning to Starbase.
  • Three Raptor engines fired as the upper stage descended, helping it move into a vertical position.
  • The launch tower caught the upper stage using two extended arms.
  • SpaceX had previously conducted practice landings of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean.
  • SpaceX has five Starships in advanced development at Starbase, according to the passage.
  • The Starfactory can currently build an upper stage about every three weeks.
  • The factory was designed to support production of one upper stage every three days.
  • SpaceX aims to increase Starship flight rates substantially in the coming years.
Read the Full Article

This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.

Monday's biggest stories, one calm email.