SpaceX catches returning rocket in mid-air, turning a fanciful idea into reality

The upside of SpaceX’s architecture is that, with refueling, Starship can theoretically ferry payloads of 100 metric tons or more to the Moon or Mars, significantly more capacity than any other rocket. The ships could be refueled over and over again, and routinely transit between Earth and destinations in space, making all sorts of fascinating missions possible.

Some time next year, SpaceX plans to launch a pair of Starships into orbit using its two side-by-side launch pads in Texas. The ships will dock together in orbit and test technologies to transfer cryogenic propellants, which has never been done in space at this scale. This demonstration is a precursor to

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