SpaceX's Starship set for return to Earth after booster catch aborted

Washington, November 14 — SpaceX faced an unexpected setback during the 15th test flight of its colossal, most powerful rocket, Starship. The 124-meter rocket soared into the sky from Starbase in southern Texas, but minutes later, a problem with the Super Heavy booster forced the company to abort its bid for the first-ever dual recovery of both the spacecraft and its booster.

A fireball erupted as the booster crashed into the Gulf of Mexico near the launch site, leaving SpaceX uncertain about the cause of the mishap. Despite the setback, the Starship spacecraft successfully entered Earth's orbit, where it was expected to circle the globe 14 times before returning by Saturday. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the space industry's decades-long pursuit of fully reusable rocket systems, which could drastically lower mission costs and facilitate frequent space launches.

SpaceX's Dan Huot expressed uncertainty over the exact reason behind the failed recovery attempt, while aerospace expert Clayton Swope noted it as a "mixed bag" given the successful orbital insertion of the Starship. NASA is counting on Starship to serve as a lunar lander for its Artemis mission, with the spacecraft potentially ferrying people to the Moon and Mars.

The complex recovery process involves the spacecraft descending and nestling between two mechanical chopstick arms at the launch site, a feat that SpaceX plans to accomplish after a series of system checks. Despite the booster mishap, SpaceX remains committed to its ambitious goals, having recently completed its first high-profile stock market debut, raising about US$85.7 billion.

The company now aims to produce a spaceship every two weeks and a booster every four weeks, showcasing its determination to revolutionize the space sector with its innovative Starship project.