SpaceX’s fifth Starship flight test has launched

Screenshot: SpaceX livestream

SpaceX launched Starship for its fifth flight test at about 8:25AM ET from its South Texas launch site. The company succeeded in returning the Starship Super Heavy booster to its landing pad, where it was “caught” using arms on the launch tower that SpaceX refers to as the “chopsticks.”

The catch was a first for the booster, which the company hadn’t returned without incident before its previous flight test in June. The company’s next task is to return Starship, which is expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean, as it did before.

Liftoff was delayed slightly while it cleared boats out of its launch range, pushing...

Continue reading…