SpaceX’s mega rocket booster returns to the launch pad to be captured during a test flight Sunday, … [+]
SpaceX has successfully launched its Starship rocket on Sunday morning for a fifth test flight, which featured a successful first-ever attempt to catch the returning Super Heavy booster using mechanical “chopsticks” on the launch tower.
Starship, which is now safely in orbit, is due to make a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean later today, and won’t be recovered.
Starship and its Super Heavy booster — packed with 10 million pounds of propellant — launched on schedule at 8:25 a.m. ET (7:25 am CT/1225 GMT) from SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas, close to the Mexican border.
SpaceX Catches Super Heavy Booster
Four minutes into the flight, engineers called “go for booster catch.” As the Super Heavy booster returned, a sonic boom was heard across the region — a thunder-like noise when a vehicle travels faster than the speed of sound. At six minutes and 49 seconds after launch, Super Heavy returned to the launch tower and, with precision guidance, nestled into the arms of the “chopsticks” — called “Mechazilla” by SpaceX.
Starship, on its fifth test flight, has six Raptor engines while the Super Heavy booster has 33 Raptor engines, capable of lifting over 200 tons to orbit.
SpaceX’s mega rocket booster returns to the launch pad to be captured during a test flight Sunday, … [+]
SpaceX Starship Flight 5 Objectives
“The primary test objectives will be attempting the first ever return to launch site and catch of the Super Heavy booster and another Starship reentry and landing burn, aiming for an on-target splashdown of Starship in the Indian Ocean,” stated SpaceX on X.
“By continuing to push our hardware in a flight environment, and doing so as safely and frequently as possible, we’ll rapidly bring Starship online and revolutionize humanity’s ability to access space.”
SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship lifts off from Starbase for a test flight Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in … [+]
Starship launched with a new heat shield, which has 18,000 ceramic tiles and can withstand temperatures up to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit (1,400 degrees Celsius).
Aside from the Super Heavy booster, no hardware was expected to be recovered after the mission. SpaceX has so far landed 352 boosters after launches of its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.