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SpaceX catches upper stage of Starship rocket in historic first
CNBC • • nation
Key Points:
- SpaceX successfully caught the upper stage of its Starship rocket using mechanical arms called "chopsticks" at its Starbase facility in Texas, marking a significant milestone despite the booster exploding after splashdown.
- The test flight, the most ambitious yet, involved the rocket's upper stage orbiting Earth 14 times before landing on the launch tower, while the booster failed to be recovered and was diverted to the Gulf of Mexico.
- Temporary flight pauses were issued by the Hawaii Department of Transportation and the FAA due to debris risk and telecommunications system failures, but both restrictions have since been lifted.
- Starship's full reusability is vital for SpaceX's plans to expand its Starlink satellite internet service, support NASA lunar missions, and pursue Elon Musk's vision of colonizing Mars.
- During the test flight, SpaceX deployed 26 new Starlink v3 satellites, adding to its constellation of over 11,000 satellites, with Starship capable of carrying up to 60 satellites per launch.
