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Comment by gibolt | original | SpaceX catches the Starship to end Flight 15
[−]gibolt · 2026-11-15 Sun 01:56 UTC · link
It could conceivably capture near-dead satellites and bring them back, deorbit them, or send up a payload of multiple repair ships.

The cost to launch may get to the point that it is cheaper to replace than repair, and we can build 10 of a satellite instead of 1 bespoke unit per program.

[−]bumby · 2026-11-15 Sun 02:39 UTC · link
What about recovery as a means of espionage? One of the Shuttle use cases floated was to recover Soviet satellites and other tech like film imagery.
[−]adastra22 · 2026-11-15 Sun 02:43 UTC · link
That’s what the X-37 is presumably for.
[−]edot · 2026-11-15 Sun 02:56 UTC · link
X-37 can and has launched in a Falcon Heavy.
[−]verzali · 2026-11-15 Sun 08:35 UTC · link
Is that possible within the prop margins?