Why do you keep repeating that all the time? The Space Shuttle was the first reusable first stage, together with it's boosters. Next came Buran, then Falcon 1, then Falcon 9 then New Shepard and maybe Superheavy in sixth place if there are no other classified reusable first stages of which we know nothing.

Previously mentioned, but these guys ask the right questions and give decent analysis
Tim Dodd: https://everydayastronaut.com/
Scott Manley: [Edit: Forum really not liking links to YouTube channels - try https://x.com/DJSnM]

Booster 12 has been lifted from the launch mount this morning with an awesome view of the Raptor nozzles! Especially like Pi Raptor 314. lol

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0f42184069.png

In presume this is because the current licence covers flights this year using the same profile as IFT5 - allowing up to two more.

Next year will, presumably, be a new licence covering Starship recovery.

This is a far bigger step than it seems. The booster launches over the Atlantic and then burns back to the launch site, having a footprint just over the ocean and launch site.

The Starship will be launched eastwards but will have to complete an orbit and re-enter, as did the Shuttle and as does Dragon, crossing over California, New Mexico and Texas to get back to the launch site - unless they build a catch site at Vandenburg (which would assume a future launch tower there as well launching to the east).

BREAKING: Elon Musk just announced that by early next year, SpaceX will attempt to catch the Starship itself, not just the Super Heavy booster.

Booster 12 dismounted and back in the production bay.

woukdnt it be great if they turned it around and launched it again on IFT6…

Thanks skadi and TURIN! That makes sense. I missed seeing those bits flying off when I watched the launch and recovery. I was too busy admiring the catch I guess....:)

The important difference is that Superheavy is designed to re-fly almost immediately.
The shuttle Orbiter, boosters, Buran, and Falcon have to undergo factory inspection and an element of refurbishment. New Shepherd doesn't count. It's a toy.
The Chinese have at least two new designs undergoing current flight testing. They're at the Falcon1 stage of development.

Not sure anyone could blame you on that.... what a freaking catch it was!!!

FINALLY! The clip we have all been waiting for! Ship 30's flip maneuver and landing burn.

The accuracy is incredible to be able to be in the exact position needed for the Buoy cam to capture this.

I only wish this was a few seconds longer to show the ship tipping over after touchdown.

VideoStarship flip maneuver and landing burn on its fifth flight test.

​​​​​​​Vehicle improvements ensured flaps were protected from high heating, resulting in a controlled entry and high accuracy splashdown at the targeted area in the Indian Ocean

This has the few more seconds of video at around 1:30.


It is easy to see why Musk left it out. Spoiler: IT BLEW UP!

Spoiler - the flight termination system will be designed to blow it up to prevent recovery and strip down by third parties…..

There was video from the bouy last week that showed it exploding.
Regarding the catch. If you look at the chopsticks during the manoeuvre they swing in quite early, with a Starship they won't be able to do this due to the aft flaps adding width.
When you consider that the interplanetary Starships will need some sort of landing gear, I wonder if they will go for an independent soft landing on a pad instead of a catch next? Especially if the second tower isn't ready.

Think they'll view having to have earth-gravity legs on a Starship as a failure. Moon (1/6th g) and Mars (shade over 1/3rd g) won't need something so beefy to support the static weight and will almost certainly be "Specials" for that role with breaking thrusters towards the nose according to some models I've seen.

Good point about the width, but it's a smaller vehicle with less inertia so I'd imagine that they'll be able to make it work - Can't believe they've not considered that. Could always bring it in 90 degrees off axis with pins at the 12/6 instead of 3/9, I guess.

I wonder if they will swing the aft flaps in. After the flip and when descending on rocket power, it would seem the aerodynamics are no longer a factor.

You are correct, the aft flaps move to the full retract position during the flip. Edit:In this clip.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/rGgMw6GJszhAPACF/

Re: landing legs. The legs on Ship 30 etc were quite small and were capable of withstanding the landing forces, I think they were fitted with crushable feet though. So not exactly quick turnaround stuff.

VideoThis story of strangulation by over-regulation from @elonmusk about the government requiring @SpaceX to asses whether their rockets could potentially hit SHARKS and WHALES is side-splittingly hilarious.

I'm not sure whether I should be laughing or crying.

Super Heavy Booster 13 has rolled out of Megabay 1 this morning to head to the launch complex for testing ahead of upcoming Starship test flight 6.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7752b60ec.jpeg
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Flat out amazing accomplishment. It's fun to watch this guy keep pushing boundaries forward. He needs to stay out of my brain though. (nueralink)

Raptor engine endurance testing - They just relit the same engine 5 times in a row…..

VideoVideoSCRAP THAT THEY JUST FIRED IT AGAIN BUT 34 TIMES IN A ROW!!! this video looks silly sped up ik 😆🔥