They've only ever caught the booster portion of the rocket, not the part that actually goes to space and orbits and returns. So, this is the first time they caught the upper stage
[−]imeanwhatdoikno · 2026-11-15 Sun 12:47 UTC ·
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Prior catches were for boosters. These were coming down after ~7 minutes of flight, reaching height of ~80km and top speed of ~6000km/hr. This latest catch was of the the Spaceship, after multiple orbits around the planet, from height of ~270km and top speed of ~27000km/hr, having to survive the much higher stress during the re-entry into atmosphere. I think the Spaceship is a bit heavier than the booster at the time of catch as well.
Edit: Spaceship is also more delicate than the booster. They have to be careful to not damage the tiles during the catch.
ok, thanks for those details.
so it may have been coming down with much more momentum, and thus required more stopping capability. and then due to moving through the atmosphere, the components for all of what it did must be more durable (to put it mildly). I guess these are the two steps forward.
great stuff anyway. I really wonder what will be in ten years.
Edit: Spaceship is also more delicate than the booster. They have to be careful to not damage the tiles during the catch.