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SpaceX's Starship: Pushing Boundaries with Ambitious 'Chopstick' Catch Test

Published October 13th, 2024 - 09:57 GMT

SpaceX is preparing to launch its latest Starship test flight, featuring the world's most powerful rocket system. The launch is scheduled for a 30-minute window starting at 8 a.m. ET from SpaceX's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.

This mission aims to test an ambitious new landing technique for the Super Heavy booster. After separation from the Starship spacecraft, the 232-foot-tall booster will attempt a midair catch using giant metal "chopsticks" on a landing structure. Meanwhile, the Starship will continue its flight, practicing a landing maneuver over the Indian Ocean.

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The goal is to refine SpaceX's ability to recover and rapidly reuse rocket components, crucial for reducing costs and turnaround time for future missions. Starship is slated to be NASA's lunar lander for the Artemis III mission as early as 2026, with contracts worth up to $4 billion. SpaceX also envisions using Starship for future Mars missions.(photo by afp)

The goal is to refine SpaceX's ability to recover and rapidly reuse rocket components, crucial for reducing costs and turnaround time for future missions. Starship is slated to be NASA's lunar lander for the Artemis III mission as early as 2026, with contracts worth up to $4 billion. SpaceX also envisions using Starship for future Mars missions. (photo by AFP)

Starship development has progressed through increasingly complex test flights since 2019. The first integrated test flight in April 2023 ended in an explosion, while the fourth test in June saw both the booster and spacecraft survive reentry, marking significant progress.(photo by afp)

Starship development has progressed through increasingly complex test flights since 2019. The first integrated test flight in April 2023 ended in an explosion, while the fourth test in June saw both the booster and spacecraft survive reentry, marking significant progress.(photo by AFP)

This latest test pushes boundaries further by attempting booster recovery. SpaceX aims to apply its experience from landing Falcon 9 boosters to the much larger and more powerful Super Heavy, which generates about 10 times the liftoff thrust of a Falcon 9.(photo by afp)

This latest test pushes boundaries further by attempting booster recovery. SpaceX aims to apply its experience from landing Falcon 9 boosters to the much larger and more powerful Super Heavy, which generates about 10 times the liftoff thrust of a Falcon 9.(photo by AFP)

SpaceX has developed a unique recovery system for the Super Heavy booster, dubbed "Mechazilla." Instead of using landing legs, the booster will attempt to be caught by massive metal arms or "chopsticks" on a special tower. This system is designed to allow for rapid turnaround, potentially enabling relaunches within 30 minutes of landing, according to CEO Elon Musk.(photo by afp)

SpaceX has developed a unique recovery system for the Super Heavy booster, dubbed "Mechazilla." Instead of using landing legs, the booster will attempt to be caught by massive metal arms or "chopsticks" on a special tower. This system is designed to allow for rapid turnaround, potentially enabling relaunches within 30 minutes of landing, according to CEO Elon Musk.(photo by AFP)

The previous test flight in June encountered issues with heat shield tiles, affecting the vehicle's landing accuracy. For this flight, SpaceX has completely reworked the thermal protection system, spending over 12,000 hours on improvements.(photo by afp)

The previous test flight in June encountered issues with heat shield tiles, affecting the vehicle's landing accuracy. For this flight, SpaceX has completely reworked the thermal protection system, spending over 12,000 hours on improvements. (photo by AFP)

If successful, this test could pave the way for more complex operations, such as in-orbit refueling, crucial for lunar missions. However, setbacks could potentially delay NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon ,The upper Starship spacecraft will again attempt a controlled landing maneuver over the ocean during this test. The outcome of this flight is significant for both SpaceX's Mars ambitions and NASA's lunar plans.(photo by afp)

If successful, this test could pave the way for more complex operations, such as in-orbit refueling, crucial for lunar missions. However, setbacks could potentially delay NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon ,The upper Starship spacecraft will again attempt a controlled landing maneuver over the ocean during this test. The outcome of this flight is significant for both SpaceX's Mars ambitions and NASA's lunar plans.(photo by AFP)

The goal is to refine SpaceX's ability to recover and rapidly reuse rocket components, crucial for reducing costs and turnaround time for future missions. Starship is slated to be NASA's lunar lander for the Artemis III mission as early as 2026, with contracts worth up to $4 billion. SpaceX also envisions using Starship for future Mars missions.(photo by afp)
Starship development has progressed through increasingly complex test flights since 2019. The first integrated test flight in April 2023 ended in an explosion, while the fourth test in June saw both the booster and spacecraft survive reentry, marking significant progress.(photo by afp)
This latest test pushes boundaries further by attempting booster recovery. SpaceX aims to apply its experience from landing Falcon 9 boosters to the much larger and more powerful Super Heavy, which generates about 10 times the liftoff thrust of a Falcon 9.(photo by afp)
SpaceX has developed a unique recovery system for the Super Heavy booster, dubbed "Mechazilla." Instead of using landing legs, the booster will attempt to be caught by massive metal arms or "chopsticks" on a special tower. This system is designed to allow for rapid turnaround, potentially enabling relaunches within 30 minutes of landing, according to CEO Elon Musk.(photo by afp)
The previous test flight in June encountered issues with heat shield tiles, affecting the vehicle's landing accuracy. For this flight, SpaceX has completely reworked the thermal protection system, spending over 12,000 hours on improvements.(photo by afp)
If successful, this test could pave the way for more complex operations, such as in-orbit refueling, crucial for lunar missions. However, setbacks could potentially delay NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon ,The upper Starship spacecraft will again attempt a controlled landing maneuver over the ocean during this test. The outcome of this flight is significant for both SpaceX's Mars ambitions and NASA's lunar plans.(photo by afp)
The goal is to refine SpaceX's ability to recover and rapidly reuse rocket components, crucial for reducing costs and turnaround time for future missions. Starship is slated to be NASA's lunar lander for the Artemis III mission as early as 2026, with contracts worth up to $4 billion. SpaceX also envisions using Starship for future Mars missions.(photo by afp)
The goal is to refine SpaceX's ability to recover and rapidly reuse rocket components, crucial for reducing costs and turnaround time for future missions. Starship is slated to be NASA's lunar lander for the Artemis III mission as early as 2026, with contracts worth up to $4 billion. SpaceX also envisions using Starship for future Mars missions. (photo by AFP)
Starship development has progressed through increasingly complex test flights since 2019. The first integrated test flight in April 2023 ended in an explosion, while the fourth test in June saw both the booster and spacecraft survive reentry, marking significant progress.(photo by afp)
Starship development has progressed through increasingly complex test flights since 2019. The first integrated test flight in April 2023 ended in an explosion, while the fourth test in June saw both the booster and spacecraft survive reentry, marking significant progress.(photo by AFP)
This latest test pushes boundaries further by attempting booster recovery. SpaceX aims to apply its experience from landing Falcon 9 boosters to the much larger and more powerful Super Heavy, which generates about 10 times the liftoff thrust of a Falcon 9.(photo by afp)
This latest test pushes boundaries further by attempting booster recovery. SpaceX aims to apply its experience from landing Falcon 9 boosters to the much larger and more powerful Super Heavy, which generates about 10 times the liftoff thrust of a Falcon 9.(photo by AFP)
SpaceX has developed a unique recovery system for the Super Heavy booster, dubbed "Mechazilla." Instead of using landing legs, the booster will attempt to be caught by massive metal arms or "chopsticks" on a special tower. This system is designed to allow for rapid turnaround, potentially enabling relaunches within 30 minutes of landing, according to CEO Elon Musk.(photo by afp)
SpaceX has developed a unique recovery system for the Super Heavy booster, dubbed "Mechazilla." Instead of using landing legs, the booster will attempt to be caught by massive metal arms or "chopsticks" on a special tower. This system is designed to allow for rapid turnaround, potentially enabling relaunches within 30 minutes of landing, according to CEO Elon Musk.(photo by AFP)
The previous test flight in June encountered issues with heat shield tiles, affecting the vehicle's landing accuracy. For this flight, SpaceX has completely reworked the thermal protection system, spending over 12,000 hours on improvements.(photo by afp)
The previous test flight in June encountered issues with heat shield tiles, affecting the vehicle's landing accuracy. For this flight, SpaceX has completely reworked the thermal protection system, spending over 12,000 hours on improvements. (photo by AFP)
If successful, this test could pave the way for more complex operations, such as in-orbit refueling, crucial for lunar missions. However, setbacks could potentially delay NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon ,The upper Starship spacecraft will again attempt a controlled landing maneuver over the ocean during this test. The outcome of this flight is significant for both SpaceX's Mars ambitions and NASA's lunar plans.(photo by afp)
If successful, this test could pave the way for more complex operations, such as in-orbit refueling, crucial for lunar missions. However, setbacks could potentially delay NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon ,The upper Starship spacecraft will again attempt a controlled landing maneuver over the ocean during this test. The outcome of this flight is significant for both SpaceX's Mars ambitions and NASA's lunar plans.(photo by AFP)

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