✅ Confirmed
Elon Musk
Noticia
Elon Musk sets timeline for SpaceX’s first Starship upper stage catch
Elon Musk confirmed that SpaceX will attempt to catch the Starship upper stage with the Mechazilla tower’s mechanical arms within a few months. This maneuver, already successfully tested with the Super Heavy booster, would enable direct recovery at the launch site, avoiding ocean retrieval and speeding up reuse. Musk also stated the first Starship reflights are expected by late 2026 or early 2027, marking a milestone in full system reusability and cost reduction for orbital and beyond missions.
- Starship upper stage catch attempt with tower planned in months
- First Starship reflights expected late 2026 or early 2027
🔎 Why it matters: Catching the Starship upper stage with the Mechazilla tower is crucial for full and rapid Starship system reusability.
📈 Upside: Enables avoiding ocean recovery and accelerates orbital vehicle reuse.
📉 Risk: Upper stage returns at higher speeds and heat loads, complicating the catch.
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