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 historic milestone on its fifth test flight by successfully catching the Super Heavy booster mid-air with "Mechazilla," a crucial step toward full reusability.
The Starship itself completed all flight objectives, and the program is integral to future human spaceflight, including NASA's Artemis III lunar mission and eventual journeys to Mars, requiring extensive testing and orbital refueling demonstrations.
Despite technical successes, SpaceX faces ongoing frustration and scrutiny from the FAA over launch licensing delays and regulatory hurdles, which the company claims impede its rapid development and America's space leadership.

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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.