Quick reuse is the end game. Being able to land on the same place you took off from, refuel, and go again. The chopsticks also act as the lifting mechanism to stack the ship on top. The other advantage is you don’t need to carry landing legs up with you, so more weight for the payload
So, tonight SpaceX try again to see if they can make to 2 for 2 catching the superheavy booster again! Should be exciting, and well worth watching if you are still awake. Launch time approx 10pm.
I agree. Elon can completely get in the bin as far as I’m concerned. But although he owns SpaceX, it’s not all him.
I follow what they do closely out of passion for aerospace and new technology. It’s the dozens of engineers and scientists that are doing all the work who, if all goes well, I’ll be celebrating.
I want to see SpaceX succeed in spite of the fact it will make Elon even richer than he already is.
Starship itself will be doing a virtual tower landing in the Indian ocean, just as in Flight 5.
Basically the flight is the same as with Flight 5, but with a Raptor Engine relight in space.
Interesting listening to the stream. They said the steeper re-entry will “push the limits, and likely exceed the limits, or the star ship”. Seems they might almost be looking to take it past it’s thermal limits today on purpose. Also talked about removing a load of the heat shield too.