"All 10 of the rocket's test flights so far have launched from Texas toward splashdowns in the Indian or Pacific Oceans. On these trajectories, the rocket never completes a full orbit around the Earth, but instead flies an arcing path through space before gravity pulls it back into the atmosphere. If Starship's next two test flights go well, SpaceX will likely attempt to send the soon-to-debut third-generation version of the rocket all the way to low-Earth orbit."
"The Starship V3 vehicle will measure 171 feet (52.1 meters) tall, a few feet more than Starship's current configuration. The entire rocket, including its Super Heavy booster, will have a height of 408 feet (124.4 meters). Starship, made of stainless steel, is designed for full reusability. SpaceX has already recovered and reflown Super Heavy boosters, but won't be ready to recover the rocket's Starship upper stage until next year, at the soonest."
SpaceX plans to return a Starship from low-Earth orbit to its South Texas launch pad, requiring an atmospheric reentry trajectory that crosses Mexico. Ten prior test flights launched from Texas and splashed down in the Indian or Pacific Oceans on suborbital arcs that did not complete full orbits. The upcoming third-generation Starship V3 will stand 171 feet tall, and the combined vehicle with Super Heavy booster will reach 408 feet. Starship is built from stainless steel and designed for full reusability; Super Heavy boosters have been recovered and reflown, while recovery of the upper-stage Starship is targeted for next year. Returning to Starbase will require a precise tower catch.
Read at Ars Technica
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