SpaceX plans to try first-ever catch of Starship rocket from orbit

SpaceX will attempt to recover both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage on its 15th Starship test flight, the first time the company has tried to catch both vehicles from orbit. The milestone follows earlier flights in which SpaceX caught the booster with the launch tower's chopstick arms while the upper stage was lost or splashed down. Success would mark a step toward rapid reuse of the full rocket, which Elon Musk's company needs to lower costs for satellite launches and NASA's Artemis lunar missions. A catch of the upper stage would require it to survive reentry and maneuver precisely to the tower. What to watch next: whether both vehicles return intact and how quickly SpaceX sets a follow-on flight.