SpaceX Achieves Historic Booster Catch During Starship Test

Company successfully catches its Super Heavy booster using a pair of metal ‘chopsticks,’ marking the first time such a maneuver has been completed.

Monday, October 14, 2024 at 03:12 PM ET

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SpaceX caught its Super Heavy booster in midair using a pair of metal ‘chopstick’ arms, the first time such a maneuver has been successfully completed. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Starship program achieved a major milestone on its fifth suborbital test flight by successfully catching the Super Heavy booster in mid-air with "Mechazilla" arms, validating a key aspect of its full reusability design.
The Starship upper stage also completed its test objectives, including a controlled re-entry and splashdown with improved thermal systems, demonstrating progress towards its goal of ferrying humans and cargo to the Moon and Mars.
Despite these technical successes, SpaceX faces significant regulatory challenges from the FAA regarding launch licensing and environmental compliance, which are slowing down its aggressive development and testing schedule for future orbital flights and propellant transfer demonstrations.

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SpaceX’s Starship program—responsible for developing the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown—continues to make history.

On Sunday, Starship and the Super Heavy booster lifted off around 8:25 a.m. EDT from SpaceX’s Starbase launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, on the rocket’s fifth suborbital test flight. But rather than splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, as it did on the previous flight, Super Heavy was caught in midair by a pair of metal “chopstick” arms the company refers to as “Mechazilla.”

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.