First catch aborted in SpaceX Starship rocket double-catch test
SpaceX aborted its attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster of its Starship rocket using mechanical arms, resulting in the booster being diverted to the ocean. The upper stage of the rocket successfully continued its mission to deploy satellites into orbit.
Why it matters
Advancements in rocket reusability are essential for reducing the cost of space exploration and increasing the frequency of orbital missions.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The lower stage of the rocket was diverted to the ocean as it burst into flames
SpaceX aborted its attempt to catch the bottom part of its huge Starship rocket during its latest test flight.
The aim was to catch it using the mechanical arms - nicknamed chopsticks - on the launch tower as it returned to Earth, but instead it was diverted to the ocean, bursting into flames as it came down.
The top part of the rocket is now continuing its journey to space, and SpaceX will decide whether it will try to catch this rocket stage at about 15:15 local time (21:15 GMT) on Saturday.
It is the company's first attempt to fully recover its rocket, paving the way for making Starship fully reusable so it can fly repeatedly and reduce costs.
Headlinne story · 8 newsrooms
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