On the Q3 earnings call on October 20, Elon Musk said the next Starship test flight, targeted for next month, will try to catch both stages back at the tower.
Why it matters
- If it works, Musk says it “will be the first time that an orbital launch vehicle has been fully recovered.”
- Starship stands more than 400 feet tall fully stacked, and both Super Heavy and Ship are built to be fully and rapidly reusable.
- Unlike Falcon 9 boosters that land on pads or ships, both stages fly back to the tower and get caught by the “chopstick” arms.
- Musk called full reuse “a profound technology milestone in the history of civilization and consciousness.”
My take
Catching one stage was jaw-dropping. Catching both would change spaceflight. I’ll be watching.
Have a blessed day! And Happy Hacking!
