Elon Musk just Declared Big Decision on Starship Catching Plan Changed!

Elon Musk just Declared Big Decision on Starship Catching Plan Changed!
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#techalpha
#spacex
#elonmusk
#starship
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Elon Musk just Declared Big Decision on Starship Catching Plan Changed!
“I'm hopeful that the ship will be will be recovered maybe this year but certainly I'd say in the first half of next year”
Catching the upper stage of Starship using Mechazilla has always been one of the biggest challenges SpaceX needs to nail, and do it soon. Elon Musk once promised we’d see a jaw-dropping demo by the end of this year to prove that both stages of Starship can be fully reused.
However, with recent issues plaguing Starship’s progress, Musk has had no choice but to push that timeline back.
Let’s break it down in today’s episode of Alpha Tech.
Elon Musk just Declared Big Decision on Starship Catching Plan Changed!
On May 14th, about two weeks before Starship Flight 9, Elon Musk confidently shared one of SpaceX’s next big goals: catching the upper stage of Starship using the launch tower.
He said, "Later this year, if fate smiles upon SpaceX, the ship will be caught by the tower, just like the booster."
And yes, for anyone following the Starship program, this is one of the most anticipated moments of the year.
It’s not just for show, it’s a crucial step toward Starship’s original vision: a fully reusable spacecraft, capable of launching Starlink satellites, moving cargo across Earth, or landing crews on the Moon and Mars.
So far, the booster, or Super Heavy, has already been caught three times by Mechazilla, including back-to-back successful catches during Flights 7 and 8. That’s a strong sign of growing stability and confidence in the system.
But unfortunately, the same can’t yet be said for the upper stage, the Starship itself.
Elon Musk just Declared Big Decision on Starship Catching Plan Changed!
The new Block 2 version has proven to be far from ready. With multiple failures and explosive outcomes, it seems that fate hasn’t smiled on SpaceX, at least not yet.
Ship 35 exploded during Flight 9 due to a propellant leak and loss of pressure in the main tank. And shortly after, Ship 36 was also lost in a ground test at Massey, following a composite overwrapped pressure vessel COPV failure.
This string of setbacks has clearly thrown off several major milestones that SpaceX had hoped to reach in 2025. In a recent interview at X Takeover 2025, Elon Musk shared that he’s optimistic about recovering a Starship booster sometime this year—but if not, then most likely within the first half of next year. 2 have slightly narrower guide rails, adjusted to better match the smaller size and shape of the Starship, unlike the wider setup for the booster.

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