SpaceX Starship Delivers 74.4 Million Newtons, Betting on 24-Hour Reflight via Tower Catch
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Aug 16
SpaceX Starship Delivers 74.4 Million Newtons, Betting on 24-Hour Reflight via Tower Catch
1 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Aug 16
Summary
74.4 million newtons of liftoff thrust from 33 Raptor 2 engines makes Starship the most powerful rocket yet built, exceeding NASA’s SLS and roughly doubling Saturn V’s output.
33 engines burn about 3,400 tonnes of methane and oxygen over roughly 166 seconds, after which the Super Heavy booster turns back while the upper-stage Starship continues toward orbit.
The booster’s key innovation is not raw power but recovery: tower-mounted “chopsticks” catch it mid-air, avoiding heavy landing legs and preserving payload capacity for repeated flights.
Three successful catches since October 2024 show the concept works, but as of the latest May 2026 test no caught booster has been reflown, leaving refurbishment speed unproven.
SpaceX’s target is turnaround in hours to days, with multiple flights per week; hitting that cadence could cut launch costs sharply and reshape missions from orbital refueling to Mars.