BOCA CHICA: SpaceX on Sunday successfully flew the first-stage booster of its Starship megarocket back to the launch pad in a controlled return, marking a significant step towards rapid rocket reusability.
The test flight took place from SpaceX’s facility in southern Texas and saw the booster’s flawless recovery after launching the uncrewed Starship rocket into space.
The “super heavy booster” blasted off at 7:25 am (1225 GMT) before making its controlled descent back to the launch pad. In a remarkable technical feat, the booster was caught mid-air by a pair of massive mechanical “chopsticks” protruding from the launch tower, as seen on SpaceX’s live stream.
“Folks, this is a day for the engineering history books,” a SpaceX spokesperson said during the broadcast.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, praised the achievement on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating the booster’s return alongside the successful splashdown of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean. “Ship landed precisely on target! Second of the two objectives achieved,” Musk wrote.
This latest success is crucial for SpaceX’s ambitions to make its rockets fully reusable. The company has spent years developing the system to “catch” returning boosters, with engineers dedicating thousands of hours to perfect the method.
READ ALSO: Hezbollah clash with Israeli Forces Near Ramiya, UN Peacekeeper Hurt
The return of the booster to the Texas launch pad involved decelerating from supersonic speeds before the booster was carefully cradled by the mechanical arms, known as “Mechazilla,” as described by Musk. The booster’s landing was a delicate operation, with technicians monitoring thousands of criteria to ensure the catch was executed safely.
Had conditions not been optimal, the booster was prepared to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico as in previous tests. However, this time, the green light was given, allowing the powerful “chopstick arms” to catch the descending rocket. Video footage captured the booster’s slow descent as its engines adjusted for a perfect landing.
The achievement comes after SpaceX’s previous test flight in June, when the company completed its first successful Starship splashdown. Starship, standing at 397 feet tall when combined with the booster, is being designed to transport humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The US space agency NASA has also recognized the importance of the Starship system, which is set to serve as a lander for crewed Moon missions under NASA’s Artemis program.
SpaceX’s rapid testing and iteration model, while sometimes resulting in spectacular failures, has been key to the company’s fast-paced development. This strategy has allowed SpaceX, founded in 2002, to outpace industry giants and become a leader in space exploration.
The company is also the only US provider certified to carry astronauts and operates the world’s largest internet satellite constellation.
