SpaceX to attempt full recovery of Starship and booster next month
SpaceX plans to attempt the recovery of both the Starship spacecraft and its booster next month. The operation aims to demonstrate the capability to recover an entire orbital launch vehicle for the first time.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that the company will attempt to capture both the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster during a test flight scheduled for next month. The operation marks a significant effort to achieve the full recovery of an orbital launch system, a goal that would distinguish SpaceX from all other aerospace operators.
During the company’s third-quarter briefing, Musk framed the move as a major technical objective for the firm. However, he cautioned that technical hurdles remain, noting that success is not guaranteed during these early flight iterations.
Musk expressed confidence that a successful recovery is statistically probable on the upcoming flight. If the attempt succeeds, it would validate the technical feasibility of rapid reusability, potentially lowering the costs and operational timeframes for future orbital missions.