What's happening?
SpaceX will attempt to catch Starship and its booster for the first time next month. CEO Elon Musk announced the plan during the company's third-quarter earnings call on Tuesday.
Why it matters
The goal is to recover the entire orbital launch system for the first time. According to Musk, a success would mark the first time an orbital launch vehicle has been fully recovered. He called it "a profound technology milestone in the history of civilization consciousness."
Risk of failure
Musk was candid that success is not guaranteed on these first flights. Still, he said success is more likely than not on the next flight.
Context
Starship is SpaceX's reusable heavy-lift launch system. While booster catches have been attempted before, this time the aim is to recover both the upper stage and the booster in the same mission.
