SpaceX successfully ‘catches’ Starship rocket booster in rare engineering feat

Elon Musk-owned SpaceX recovered the rocket booster right on its launch pad rather than landing it on floating ocean platforms.

Published on: Oct 13, 2024, 19:13:46 IST

Share via

Copy link

Elon Musk-owned SpaceX on Sunday successfully intercepted the returning booster back of its Starship rocket by using the mechanical arms in its launch pad, achieving a tremendous feat.

SpaceX's mega rocket booster returns to the launch pad to be captured during a test flight, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Boca Chica,, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (AP)

This is the first time the company has recovered the rocket booster right on its launch pad rather than landing it on floating ocean platforms. SpaceX has been recovering the first-stage boosters of its smaller Falcon 9 rockets in this manner for almost nine years.

Also read | Elon Musk's SpaceX wins earlier-than-expected approval to fly fifth starship

Musk shared the stunning video from the exact moment in the social media platform X, owned by him. The returning booster of the Starship rocket was safely caught by the mechanical arms of its launch pad, seven minutes after its launch. The launch tower sported monstrous metal arms, dubbed chopsticks, that caught the descending 232-foot (71-meter) booster.

Engineers at the company were thrilled at their feat. “Even in this day and age, what we just saw is magic. I am shaking right now,” said SpaceX's Dan Huot, who observed the landing from near the launch site.

“Folks, this is a day for the engineering history books,” added SpaceX's Kate Tice from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.

Also read | Elon Musk's Robotaxi gets a thumbs down from investors. Here's why

First successful recovery on the launch pad itself has ignited the hopes of enthusiasts for space tourism and a safe landing on Earth during return from space.

India's Anand Mahindra shared his excitement in a post on X. “And this Sunday, I’m happy to be a couch potato, if it means that I get to watch history being made. This experiment may just be the critical moment when space travel was democratised and made routine. Where can I buy my ticket, @elonmusk?,” he wrote.

SpaceX achieved this feat during the fifth test flight of Starship rocket. This “catch-landing” method is the company's latest advance in its pursuit to develop fully reusable rocket that can lift more cargo into space orbit. Musk also envisions to ferry humans to moon and eventually the Mars using reusable launch vehicles.

(With inputs from AP, Reuters)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.