11/20/24:
A screen grab of the booster returning to the Gulf of Mexico. One thing that stands out to me is that the
engine compartment is red hot. The engines are not on, and the booster is 11 km above the surface. There
were no explosions in the air, as was the case in earlier flights. Also, there was no fire just before landing, as was the case in Flight 5. This may have been a simulated landing on the tower while at sea. The booster was pitched to one side, then went vertical just as it was landing.
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Great SpaceX YouTube channel video
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The booster was diverted well before this, by the way. Later reports had stated some damage at the tower. It was deemed a risk, hence the diversion.
11/19/24, 5:43 PM
The Starship has just landed in the Indian Ocean. There was a bit of excess heating on the flap, but it
didn't burn through too badly, or much at all.
The booster didn't make it back to the pad for a catch. It landed in the Gulf of Mexico in its designated
area, as best as I can determine.
The launch went pretty smoothly, no engines cut out. The hot stage maneuver seemed to go well, as well
as the boost-back burn. Even so, the booster wasn't given the go-ahead for another catch attempt. Therefore, it's
backup trajectory was where the booster went. Something of a disappointment. However, I wonder if it was out of
an abundance of caution. If a catch was attempted, there's a risk of an incident that could delay the
next flight.
If the focus of the this flight was to test the Starship; and not the booster, then the failure of the
booster to return is no big deal. Also, the partial burn-out of the ship is no big deal because it is an old design. It is
the last of the version 1 of the proto-types.
The next flight will feature the version 2 ship, and it may get a chance to land on the tower.
SpaceX may not be much interested in a booster catch at this point. This part has been done before. Why
risk it? It may well be deferred on the next flight as well. SpaceX may not be interested in collecting
and reusing old designs.
Flight 7 will be in the first part of next year. Excitement might have been guaranteed, but it was not
as exciting without the booster catch. As far as I can tell, the SpaceX team achieved their objectives, and
so it is on to the next test flight next year.
