SpaceX Starship soars into orbit as booster malfunction thwarts double catch attempt

Booster recovery attempt fails

SpaceX had planned to bring the booster back to its launch pad in Texas as the first part of a double recovery. An automatic abort sent it into the Gulf of Mexico instead.

The setback meant the company had to abandon its goal of retrieving every part of the rocket on this flight. SpaceX has made three booster catches at Starbase, but this was its first attempt with the upgraded booster, which is 236 feet (72 meters) long.

Spacecraft continues toward orbit

The spacecraft kept flying after the booster’s diversion and reached orbit. SpaceX planned for it to release 26 Starlink satellites and complete 15 circuits around Earth at an altitude of about 170 miles (275 kilometers).

On Saturday, the spacecraft is due to return toward the launch site for a first attempt to catch it with mechanical arms on the tower. If the plan proceeds without further trouble, the flight will last 22 hours.

Reusable rocket ambitions

The Starship and booster together stand 407 feet (124 meters) tall, making them the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket, according to the article. The spacecraft is 171 feet (52 meters) long and is intended for future moon and Mars expeditions.

SpaceX aims to reuse both rocket stages, which Elon Musk views as important for achieving much higher launch rates. The company says it plans to launch Starships from Florida within months and from Louisiana in a few years.

NASA missions and future flights

For Artemis III, planned for next summer, astronauts are expected to practice docking their capsule with Blue Moon and Starship in orbit around Earth. The mission is intended to prepare for a moon landing as early as 2028.