Latest from Space.com: SpaceX rolls Booster 22 out for double-catch test
Latest from Space.com says SpaceX moved Booster 22 to the pad ahead of Starship Flight 15's planned twin catch attempt.
TL;DR
- Latest from Space.com reports SpaceX moved Super Heavy Booster 22 to the Starbase launch mount.
- According to Latest from Space.com, Flight 15 aims for a first-ever catch of both booster and Ship upper stage with tower arms.
- Latest from Space.com reports the booster returns about 6.5 minutes after launch; Ship returns after 22 hours and 26 Starlink V3 deployments.
Latest from Space.com reports that SpaceX has rolled Super Heavy Booster 22 out to the launch mount at Starbase in South Texas.
The move sets up Flight 15, which the outlet says is planned for a Friday launch in a 75-minute window opening at 5:45 p.m. EST.
According to Latest from Space.com, the test targets the first full recovery of an orbital rocket by catching both the booster and the Ship upper stage with the tower arms.
Latest from Space.com notes the booster ran a suspended squeeze test at catch height right after reaching the pad.
The same outlet adds that SpaceX has caught Super Heavy three times before but has never tried to grab the Ship stage, which flies higher and farther.
According to Latest from Space.com, Flight 15 would also send 26 Starlink V3 satellites into orbit, with the booster due back about 6.5 minutes after liftoff and the Ship returning roughly 22 hours later.
The Tea
If Latest from Space.com is right, this test could show whether catching both stages is actually doable. That matters because the company wants to reuse everything fast to hit big launch numbers later. One successful double grab and the whole game changes for how often Starship could fly.