SpaceX attempts first double catch of Starship rocket

First orbital recovery attempt

Elon Musk's company will launch the massive vehicle at 4:45 p.m. local time on Friday. The Super Heavy booster separates midair and returns to the tower six minutes later. Mechanical arms known as chopsticks will grab the first stage upon its descent. SpaceX has successfully caught this bottom section on three previous occasions before today's flight.

Ship returns after orbit

The upper stage continues to orbit Earth and deploys 26 satellites for the Starlink internet constellation. It completes fourteen orbits around the planet before descending back toward the launch site. The second catch attempt occurs approximately twenty-two hours after liftoff if conditions allow. This marks the first time the spaceship itself will be recovered by the tower arms.

NASA monitors Artemis progress

The United States space agency watches closely as this vehicle supports its Artemis lunar landing program. A successful recovery demonstrates full reusability which could drastically reduce future mission costs for space travel. Shares of the publicly traded company will also be monitored by investors following the recent stock market debut. Engineers must ensure the ship withstands extreme heat during atmospheric reentry without extensive refurbishment.