SpaceX Plans Risky Manoeuvre For Starship Upper Stage in 2025, Elon Musk Announced

On Sunday, 13 October, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, made history in spaceflight during the fifth test flight of its Starship mega-rocket. Approximately seven minutes after liftoff, the Super Heavy first-stage booster returned to its launch mount, where it was successfully captured by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms.

Apparently, in 2025, SpaceX plans to make history again by catching the Starship upper stage, a 165-foot-tall (50-meter) spacecraft also called Starship or simply Ship.

“Hopefully, early next year, we will catch the ship too,” company founder and CEO Elon Musk wrote on X on Tuesday, 15 October.

Starship Revolutionises Spaceflights

The 400-foot-tall (122 meters) fully reusable Starship, built by SpaceX, is a revolutionary spacecraft for carrying people and cargo to the Moon and Mars. This advanced vehicle is designed to help with different space missions, including landing astronauts on the Moon, exploring other planets, and launching satellites.

Following a successful catch on Sunday, it’s no surprise that SpaceX intends to push the boundaries by safely returning the Ship during one or more upcoming test flights.

Not All Missions Will Use Launch Tower Catches

However, catching Ship with the launch tower won’t be possible for all its missions. For example, when the upper stage is used to take people to the Moon’s or Mars’s surface, it will need to land vertically using its own propulsion and landing legs, much like the way lunar landers and Mars rovers are designed to touch down. These landings are critical for ensuring safe, controlled descents on unprepared surfaces far from Earth.

Which Missions Would Be Caught By “Chopsticks”?

But the situation is different regarding Starship missions to Earth orbit. These missions will include expanding its large Starlink broadband mega constellation and helping to refuel other Starships headed for distant destinations. Launch-mount landings are practical for these missions, enabling quick and efficient flights to and from Earth orbit.

The upcoming test will be a crucial step in confirming that the Starship upper stage is prepared for its planned missions.