SpaceX Postpones Starship Upper Stage Tower Catch Attempt to 'A Few Months,' Elon Musk Announces
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that the company will likely attempt the first-ever tower catch of Starship's upper stage, known as Ship, in 'a few months,' rather than the previously targeted late August. This update was shared via X, the social media platform Musk owns. Initially, on August 4, Musk had indicated that the next test flight would include this ambitious maneuver. SpaceX has successfully performed 'chopstick' catches of the Super Heavy booster, Starship's first stage, on three of its 13 suborbital test flights, with two of those involving used boosters. However, catching Ship is considered more challenging due to its return from much greater heights and at higher speeds. Despite the delay, Ship demonstrated significant progress during Flight 13 on July 24, surviving reentry and splashing down intact in the Indian Ocean, a feat none of its predecessors achieved. 
