GoKawiil
Tech News
SpaceX called off its planned retrieval of the Starship booster during a recent test flight after an unspecified problem surfaced early in the mission. The company proceeded with the flight but did not attempt to recover the booster as originally planned.
SpaceX's fully stacked Starship launch vehicle measures 407 feet, combining the 236.2-foot Super Heavy booster and the 170.6-foot Starship spacecraft. It is currently the tallest and most powerful rocket ever flown, generating 18.1 million pounds-force of liftoff thrust, up from the 16.7 million pounds-force recorded during its first full-stack launch in April 2023, when booster exhaust damaged the launch pad and scattered debris across 385 acres.
SpaceX's Starship rocket completed a test flight reaching orbital velocity, marking the first time the vehicle has achieved this milestone after multiple prior attempts ended in failure. The flight demonstrated key systems needed for the spacecraft's eventual role in deep-space missions, though the company still faces significant engineering hurdles before Starship can be used commercially.
SpaceX is preparing to launch the fourteenth test flight of its Starship rocket on Monday, marking a new attempt after 13 previous missions. The flight is described as attempting a milestone the vehicle has not achieved in any prior test.