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Comment by colechristensen | original | SpaceX catches the Starship to end Flight 15
[−]colechristensen · 2026-11-15 Sun 00:18 UTC · link
no reason you couldn't make a starship with a cargo bay for recovery, it would just cost a considerable amount of payload mass
[−]Rapzid · 2026-11-15 Sun 03:32 UTC · link
Sure, and the starship is just a scaled up falcon with more raptors..

But here we are 12-15 years later and it's still not operational.

This would require it being safe for and having facilities for crew. Tool and machinery for service and recovery. The vessel would need to handle re-entry stress with return payloads on board. The heat tiles would need to support the extra mass. The vehicle capture system. Etc. Etc.

Could it all be built on the starship "platform"? Maybe.. One day. But that day is not this day.