SpaceX aims to recover full Starship launch system on next test flight

Elon Musk told investors that SpaceX will attempt to capture the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster on the next scheduled launch, aiming for the first full recovery of an orbital launch system. The two-stage vehicle, roughly 120-124 meters tall and powered by Raptor engines, is designed to return to the launch site where tower “chopstick” arms can catch it mid-air. Musk described the effort as a profound milestone for civilization, but cautioned that early flights may still fail, though he believes success is more likely than not.

He also said that a string of Starship missions is slated through the remainder of the year, with an intensified cadence next year. The previous launch achieved orbit and deployed Starlink V3 satellites, but an engine shutdown shortened the mission and both stages splashed down unrecovered in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific north of Hawaii.