SpaceX will attempt historic catch of returning Starship booster on Sunday

SpaceX attempts historic booster catch with chopsticks on Sunday.

: SpaceX plans to launch Starship on Sunday, aiming for a historic booster catch using chopstick arms. The launch window opens at 5 AM PST from Starbase in Texas. The mission's success could advance SpaceX's goal of rapid rocket reuse. The FAA has approved the test, which includes a booster catch at the pad and Starship splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX is set to launch its massive Starship on Sunday with a significant attempt to catch the returning Super Heavy booster using two large chopstick arms. The launch window begins at 5 AM PST from the Starbase site in southeast Texas, and this will be the fifth test in the Starship development program.

The FAA has fast-tracked approval, meeting all safety and environmental standards for this flight and the next, despite prior delays. The mission aims to catch the booster at the launch site, while Starship will head for a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, building on previous successes in booster recovery and reuse technology.

Engineers have spent recent months testing components such as the launch tower and thermal protection systems. This test flight allows further exploration of rapid reuse strategies, with the company's overarching goal of improving reusable spacecraft operations to revolutionize space access.

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