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SpaceX Targets Rocket Catch & New Starlink Launch in August
5 Aug
Summary
- SpaceX plans Starship's 14th flight test by month's end.
- The flight aims to orbit first upgraded Starlink V3 satellites.
- A key goal is the first successful upper-stage rocket catch.
SpaceX is preparing for its 14th Starship flight test, targeting the end of August for launch. This mission is significant as it aims to deploy the first batch of V3 Starlink satellites, which are expected to deliver ten times the broadband capacity of current generations. A primary objective of this test flight is to achieve the first successful landing of the Starship upper stage by catching it with the launch tower's mechanical arms.
This maneuver is a critical step in SpaceX's goal to develop a fully reusable orbital launch system. If successful, the Starship upper stage will be caught by the tower, while the Super Heavy booster would return to a landing in the Gulf of Mexico, similar to its recent successful recoveries. CEO Elon Musk projected that Starship launch frequency will increase rapidly, with the potential for at least one flight per day within a year.
