SpaceX catches Starship upper stage with launch-tower arms
SpaceX has caught Starship’s upper stage with robotic arms for the first time, completing a controlled recovery after a test flight from Texas. The manoeuvre is a step towards the company’s goal of reusable rockets.
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SpaceX has caught the upper stage of its Starship rocket with robotic arms on the launch tower, the first time the company has attempted the manoeuvre. The controlled recovery followed a test flight launched from Starbase, Texas, about 20 hours earlier, according to ANP.
The catch is a step towards SpaceX’s goal of making Starship reusable. The company had previously caught the rocket’s booster, but the upper stage had returned to the sea after earlier flights. SpaceX had planned a first attempt to catch both stages on this test flight; the upper-stage recovery is now the key result.
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