SpaceX successfully catches returning Starship booster
TechCrunchOCT 20 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared that SpaceX has met all safety, environmental, and licensing requirements for this suborbital test flight.
A key objective of this mission is to return the Super Heavy booster to its launch site, a feat not previously attempted, potentially using a pair of massive metal pincers called "chopsticks" to catch it midair.
The Starship spacecraft will continue its flight, aiming for a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, similar to the successful maneuver achieved during the fourth test flight in June.
The ambitious nature of this test raises concerns about potential setbacks. A failure to recover the booster or significant damage to launch facilities could lead to delays in NASA's lunar program. The complex maneuvers planned for this flight carry high risks, and success is far from guaranteed.