Elon Musk’s SpaceX reached a remarkable milestone on Sunday by successfully catching the massive booster stage of its Starship rocket using a pair of robotic arms as it descended back to the company’s launchpad in southern Texas. This achievement not only signifies a leap in space technology but also emphasizes SpaceX’s ongoing commitment to developing fully reusable rockets.
The Successful Launch
The historic event marked the successful completion of SpaceX’s fifth test flight of the uncrewed Starship, which lifted off from the Boca Chica starbase at 7:25 AM local time (1325 BST). The mission began as the rocket’s 71-meter (233-foot) Super Heavy booster separated from the upper stage approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) above the Earth. While the booster made its descent, the upper stage continued its journey, reaching an altitude of nearly 90 miles before orbiting the planet at speeds of 17,000 mph and ultimately splashing down in the Indian Ocean as planned.
The Catch: An Engineering Marvel
As the Super Heavy booster fell back to Earth, SpaceX staff erupted in cheers and applause when it reignited three of its Raptor engines, successfully slowing its rapid descent. The booster then maneuvered towards the “mechazilla” launch tower, where it was captured by mechanical arms referred to as “chopsticks.” This marks the first time SpaceX has attempted such a bold maneuver, which the company views as essential for its goal of creating fully reusable rockets capable of transporting humans and supplies to the Moon and Mars.
“Are you kidding me?” exclaimed Dan Huot, SpaceX’s communications manager, visibly shaken by the successful operation. “What we just saw, that looked like magic.” The excitement in the control room was palpable, with team members celebrating this engineering breakthrough.
“This is a day for the engineering history books,” added Kate Tice, a quality systems engineer at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
Starship’s Smooth Re-Entry
The remainder of the Starship re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in a horizontal position. Cameras onboard captured the spacecraft enveloped in a smooth, pinkish-purple plasma as it descended. The hot side of the ship is protected by 18,000 heat-shielding tiles, which were improved since SpaceX’s last test flight in June, during which the Starship encountered tile damage that complicated its re-entry.
This time around, the Starship appeared more intact as it reignited one of its six engines to position itself upright for the ocean landing. The live stream from SpaceX showcased the rocket splashing down in the dark waters off Australia’s coast, where it eventually toppled onto its side, concluding the test mission.
Unexpected Turn: The Explosion
Following the landing, a separate camera view from a nearby vessel captured the Starship exploding into a vast fireball. It remains unclear whether the explosion was a controlled detonation or a result of a fuel leak. Despite this unexpected turn, Musk expressed satisfaction, noting that the ship had landed “precisely on target!”
Praise from Astronauts and Experts
The successful capture of the Starship booster drew widespread praise from the space community. Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield shared his enthusiasm on social media platform X, stating, “There was an enormous step forward in human capability today. Makes me even more excited for our collective future. Congratulations to all at SpaceX!”
