What Happens to SpaceX Booster After It Lands in Ocean

In the latest developments from SpaceX's Starship program, the company's attempts to achieve the ambitious goal of booster reusability have encountered some setbacks, particularly in the context of the booster's landing and recovery.

During the sixth test flight of the Starship system, which took place on November 19, the Super Heavy booster, powered by 33 Raptor engines, successfully propelled the Starship spacecraft into space before beginning its return journey to Earth. However, the planned precision landing of the booster into the mechanical arms of the launch tower, nicknamed "Mechazilla," was aborted due to unfavorable conditions identified by automated health checks of critical hardware on the launch and catch tower[5].

Instead of attempting the catch, the booster executed a contingency maneuver, resulting in a powered soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico. This landing was not without its challenges; the booster tipped over on its side and exploded seconds later after touching down in the water[4].

The process of landing the booster in the ocean involves several critical steps. After separating from the Starship upper stage, the Super Heavy booster initiates its boostback burn to begin its return to Earth. However, if conditions are deemed unfavorable for a return to the launch site, the booster defaults to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the ocean. This was the case in the recent test, where the booster landed in the Gulf of Mexico rather than attempting to return to the launch site[1].

The landing in the ocean is designed to be as controlled as possible, with the booster using its engines to slow down and orient itself for a vertical descent. In previous tests, footage showed the booster coming in at an angle, lighting its engines to slow down and orient nearly perfectly vertically before making contact with the water[2].

Despite the successful splashdown, the failure to catch the booster highlights the complexities and challenges involved in this process. Factors such as the speed, altitude, and exact rotation of the booster, as well as the precise alignment with the catch points on the launch tower, must all be perfectly coordinated for a successful catch. The static nature of the launch complex, except for the movable "chopsticks" of the Mechazilla tower, adds to the precision required for this maneuver[2].

In the aftermath of the splashdown, the booster's fate is one of recovery and analysis. While the immediate outcome of the booster landing in the ocean was a tip-over and explosion, the data gathered from these tests is crucial for future improvements. SpaceX engineers will analyze the performance of the booster's systems, including the propellant filtration capabilities and engine performance, to address any issues and implement necessary upgrades for future flights[2][5].

The Starship upper stage, meanwhile, continued its mission, successfully reentering the Earth's atmosphere and performing a powered soft landing in the Indian Ocean. This reentry was part of a more aggressive test profile, designed to stress the limits of the vehicle's control systems and gather valuable data for future missions[4].

As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space technology, the experiences and lessons learned from these tests will be pivotal in achieving the company's goals of reusability and cost reduction, ultimately paving the way for historic human missions to the Moon and Mars.