SpaceX could catch attempt Starship with Flight 9, suggests FCC filing

SpaceX could catch attempt the Starship with Flight 9, suggests a new FCC filing as it prepares to fly this integrated space rocket for the 8th time somewhere next week.

The FCC filing for “Special Temporary Authority” revealed Starship Flight 9 certification and launch from Starbase Texas including first and second-stage trajectory parameters. The document also explains the purpose of this test flight as the following:

“Launch vehicle communications for test flight 9 mission launching from Starbase, Texas. The first stage booster and second stage will either return to the launch site or perform a water landing.”

Furthermore, the Flight 9 test mission date is between March 14, 2025, and 30, June 2025.

(Source – FCC)

As of today, SpaceX has conducted seven flight tests and caught the booster with the fifth flight. It failed to repeat the catch with Flight 6 but succeeded in Flight 7.

This task includes the launch/catch tower’s mechanical arms that wrap around the rocket and pluck it in mid-air after firing the final burn.

Currently, the ship cannot do the same due to the complexity of its primary objectives. The upper stage is designed to take larger payloads into orbit, space, and other planets. It can reignite engines and measure distance on its own in the vacuum of space. Therefore, it requires rigorous testing before it can fly for a real mission.

Credit – SpaceX

In the past flights, the ship successfully performed sub-orbital flights and practiced payload deployment sequence. It has reentered the Earth’s atmosphere to endure the high temperature and test the heat shield tiles.

The company is now preparing to launch Flight 8 as soon as February 26 and tests such as static fire have already been completed. Additional launch practices are required to decide a final liftoff date.

This mission will be crucial for the company to decide whether the ship will be ready for a catch with Flight 9.

(source)