Recap on Starship’s ninth flight and the vehicle’s future. Also, the end of Xodiac and a test of another Chinese reusable booster.

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

David Fourman, Ben Etherington, and Dennis Just

Episode 510: Leakspin

JUN 4, 202549 MIN
The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

Episode 510: Leakspin

JUN 4, 202549 MIN

Description

<p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Spaceflight News</strong></p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">— Starship Block 2: 0 for 3 (<a href="https://spacenews.com/starship-breaks-up-on-reentry-after-loss-of-attitude-control/">spacenews.com</a>) (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqQM1AfpSZI&amp;ab_channel=ScottManley">youtube.com</a>)</p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">— Block 3 Update (<a href="https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/05/future-starship-block-3-mars/">nasaspaceflight.com</a>)</p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Short &amp; Sweet</strong></p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">— Xodiac flies final time (<a href="https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/05/rocket-report-northrop-backs-firefly-and-names-its-rocket-xodiac-will-fly-no-more/">arstechnica.com</a>)</p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">— China successfully tests vertical-takeoff vertical-landing rocket (<a href="https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-29/Chinese-commercial-rocket-completes-vertical-sea-recovery-test-1DMefpHW0qQ/p.html">cgtn.com</a>)</p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>This Week in Spaceflight History</strong></p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">ii May 24, 1962: Fourth flight of Project Mercury (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Atlas_7">en.wikipedia.org</a>) (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/mercury-atlas-7-aurora-7/">nasa.gov</a>)</p><p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">— Next week (6/10 - 6/16) in 1973: <em>Dos equis</em></p>