On October 13, 2024, SpaceX marked a significant achievement in space exploration with the successful completion of the Starship flight test 5. This test not only demonstrated the evolving capabilities of SpaceX’s ambitious Starship program but also showcased a critical first in aerospace history: a mid-air rocket booster catch.

The test saw the launch of Starship Ship 30 and Super Heavy Booster 12 from SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas. The mission, which lasted just over an hour, achieved a notable apogee of 212 kilometers (132 miles) before Starship’s upper stage spacecraft safely splashed down in the Indian Ocean. But the true breakthrough came during the return of the Super Heavy booster.

For the first time ever, a rocket booster was caught mid-air by two massive arms—dubbed “Mechazilla”—attached to the launch tower. After propelling the Starship upper stage into its trajectory toward space, the Super Heavy booster executed a stunning maneuver by firing its Raptor engines to return to the launch site. Upon approach, the booster slowed to a hover and performed a precise horizontal slide, allowing the “chopstick” arms to close around it, successfully catching the booster before the engines powered down.

This event comes after months of regulatory delays and environmental disputes with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies. SpaceX had faced a series of challenges, from permit disputes to environmental concerns, which resulted in a prolonged wait for the launch approval. Despite these setbacks, the company managed to move forward with this groundbreaking flight.

While minor damage was noted on Starship’s control flaps during re-entry, the test was largely deemed a success, with the spacecraft landing with high accuracy near a pre-positioned buoy. However, as anticipated, the upper stage erupted in a fireball after landing, underscoring the fact that it was not intended for recovery in this mission.

This test flight further solidifies SpaceX’s progress toward its goal of creating a fully reusable launch system capable of carrying humans to deep space. With the success of the booster catch, SpaceX continues to demonstrate its innovative approach to aerospace technology, keeping the space industry and the world in anticipation of what comes next.

Stay tuned for further developments from SpaceX as they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in space exploration.