Confirmed: Starship Flight 9 Will Not Catch The...

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SpaceX is not attempting to catch the Super Heavy Booster for Starship Flight 9 due to a strategic decision to prioritize other mission objectives and reduce risks. The booster, Booster 14-2, previously flew on Flight 7 and is set to perform a landing burn in the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to the launch tower for a catch. This choice likely stems from the need to focus on resolving ongoing issues with the Starship upper stage, which has failed in the last two flights (Flights 7 and 8) due to engine-related anomalies. By opting for a simpler booster landing profile, SpaceX can concentrate on testing and refining the Block 2 Starship design, particularly its heat shield and reentry capabilities, without the added complexity of a tower catch. Additionally, posts on X suggest that SpaceX may be avoiding unnecessary risks to the launch infrastructure while iterating on fixes for the upper stage’s “harmonic response” problem, which could delay the program if a catch attempt fails. Thank you for supporting my channel. My channel started as a way to keep people up to date on the world of SpaceX's Starlink, the satellite internet service. The channel has grown to include the broader Elon Musk universe. #SpaceX #starship #elonmusk #starbase Your support for my channel means a lot. Thanks for watching and if you have any video ideas, shoot me an email, eliana.sheriff@gmail.com. Find me on instagram, @elianainspace Order your own 3D printed Starship at: https://stardesk.peachs.co/a/eliana-sheriff Want to support Ellie in Space? Join my Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=47580275 Logo creator: https://www.tonybela.com/