SpaceX Starship upper stage returns to Texas launch pad intact
SpaceX successfully caught its Starship upper stage at the Texas launch site on Saturday following a partial mission failure.
Upper stage lands safely
The 171ft Starship upper stage descended into the mechanical arms of the tower on Saturday. This marked the first time the company caught its upper stage after a historic double-catch mission plan. The craft orbited Earth 14 times during this 22hr mission before returning to the ground. SpaceX aims to make the vehicle suitable for human spaceflight with these successful recovery tests.
Booster failed mid-flight
A few minutes after launch, the lower booster stage known as Super Heavy veered off course and detonated within the Gulf of Mexico. The guidance, navigation and control system triggered the no-go because the booster was not in the correct place. SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot stated the system detected the error and acted as intended to prevent further risk.
Future lunar plans continue
This week's test flight remains a victory for SpaceX as it nears the 2028 date for Nasa's lunar surface return plan. The agency has contracted SpaceX and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin for this specific mission to bring humans back to the moon. Elon Musk plans to ramp up Starship test flights to a weekly or twice-weekly cadence soon.
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