SpaceX catches a Starship with its launch tower arms
SpaceX caught the Starship vehicle in the arms of its launch tower for the first time, though the booster aborted its catch, according to The Verge.
The facts
- According to The Verge, SpaceX caught Starship with the arms of its 'Mechazilla' launch and catch tower for the first time, at around 4:20 PM ET.
- The company had caught its boosters this way before, but this is the first time the manoeuvre has worked on the Starship vehicle itself.
- The planned catch of the Flight 15 booster was aborted, and the booster blew up over the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX is still working out why.
- On the third-quarter earnings call, Elon Musk said success is not guaranteed on early flights, but a catch next flight is more likely than not.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
Catching the vehicle, not just the booster, is the step that points to full reuse. That is where the cost of reaching orbit can fall. Today was a split result: one clean milestone, one failure still being investigated. Watch the cause of the booster abort, because that is the evidence that will tell you how far off full recovery really is.
For builders
Cheaper, reusable launch feeds everything built on satellites, from internet access to data services. Builders in connectivity and satellite-linked services should track whether SpaceX can repeat the catch and publish a cause for the booster failure.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from The Verge's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.