SpaceX is attempting to catch the upper stage of its Starship rocket as it returns to Earth, following an earlier failed attempt to recover the lower stage.
The Starship rocket launched successfully on Friday from the Starbase launchpad in Boca Chica, Texas, at 16:47 local time. The company aims to recover both the upper and lower stages of the rocket using mechanical arms, known as 'chopsticks,' on the launch tower. However, the first attempt to catch the lower stage was aborted shortly after launch, and the booster diverted to the ocean, where it burst into flames.
The upper stage, referred to as the Ship, is scheduled to return to Earth at 15:15 local time (21:15 GMT) on Saturday. It will complete 14 orbits around the Earth before landing at the launch tower 22.5 hours after liftoff. This marks the 15th test of Starship and the first attempt to fully recover both parts of the rocket. SpaceX has previously successfully caught the lower stage on three occasions but has yet to recover the upper stage, which reached orbit for the first time in September.
Why it matters
The attempt to recover the booster shows the complexity of timing and coordination required for such operations.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
Watch whether SpaceX will attempt to catch the top part of the Starship rocket as it returns to Earth.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.