SpaceX plans to conduct its first attempt to catch Starship hardware during a test flight, recovering both the rocket’s upper stage and its booster. Multiple outlets report that the company has released or described a demonstration of the plan and that the attempt could occur as soon as next month.
Context centers on the company’s effort to recover more of the orbital launch system than in previous recovery attempts. Engadget highlights the released demo of how the catch would work for the upper stage, while Quartz and Space.com frame the effort as a “double catch” of both Starship stages. The Verge adds that the goal includes recovering the entire orbital launch system, and presents Musk’s view that a successful recovery would be historically significant.
