SpaceX successfully conducted its sixth flight test of the Starship rocket yesterday but opted to abandon the Super Heavy booster catch attempt, instead directing the giant 233-foot vehicle to a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The company reported that the decision to abort the catch was related to issues with the launch and catch tower at the pad, rather than any problems with the rocket itself.
This latest launch follows a groundbreaking flight just 37 days earlier, during which SpaceX achieved a historic milestone by successfully catching a returning Starship booster using its Mechazilla tower arms. In preparation for Flight 6, SpaceX implemented enhancements, including improving propulsion hardware, reinforcing key structural areas, and updating flight software.
Despite not capturing the booster this time, Flight 6 saw several notable achievements. The rocket successfully relit a Raptor engine in space and tested the spacecraft’s heat shield and flaps by reentering at a steeper angle. The Starship also made a daytime water landing over the Indian Ocean, capturing critical imagery for documentation. Interestingly, the mission included a whimsical touch with its first physical payload: a banana.
Looking ahead, Flight 7 is set to showcase SpaceX’s new Starship V2, featuring 25% larger propellant tanks and redesigned smaller forward flaps. SpaceX is ambitious, with General Manager Kathy Lueders announcing at CONACES 2024 plans to catch the second-stage Starship within the next six months. She further noted a target of 25 launches in 2025. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell raised expectations even higher at the Baron Investment Conference, suggesting a potential for 400 Starship launches in the next four years.
The event attracted significant attention, including President-elect Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, indicating strong political support for SpaceX’s continued evolution and growth.
This impressive series of developments underscores SpaceX’s commitment to pioneering space exploration and rocket recovery technology, bringing humanity closer to realizing its aspirations for deeper space missions. It’s an exhilarating time for the aerospace community as advancements in technology and supportive governmental frameworks promise to elevate the future of space travel.