Elon Musk's SpaceX has shared new footage from its launch tower, capturing a significant moment as its Super Heavy booster was successfully caught for the first time. The visuals highlight a key achievement in SpaceX's fifth test flight of the Starship rocket.
For the first time, the "Super Heavy" booster was returned to the launch tower using giant mechanical arms.
The lower half of the rocket maneuvered back to the launch tower, achieving a world-first for SpaceX. This successful catch is a step forward in SpaceX's goal of developing a fully reusable rocket system.
This development is crucial for NASA's mission to send astronauts back to the moon.
SpaceX engineers described the event as "a day for the history books," celebrating the safe landing of the Super Heavy booster. Despite concerns that the booster might end up in the Gulf of Mexico, it made a flawless return, exceeding expectations on the first attempt.
The historic launch and catch
In a significant milestone for reusable space technology, SpaceX successfully returned the first stage of its Starship rocket to its Texas launch pad on Sunday using massive metal arms, marking the first time this feat has been achieved. The booster recovery occurred during the company's fifth Starship test flight, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop a reusable spacecraft for missions to the moon and Mars.
The "Super Heavy" booster, standing 233 feet (71 meters) tall, launched from SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility at 7:25 a.m. CT (1225 GMT), Reuters reported. It propelled the second stage Starship rocket toward space before detaching at an altitude of around 70 km (40 miles) to begin its descent back to Earth.
During its return, the booster reignited three of its 33 Raptor engines to slow its descent, aiming for the very launch tower from which it had taken off. The tower, equipped with large metal arms designed to catch the booster, successfully captured the massive rocket as it fell. The booster locked itself into place using its four forward grid fins, which helped guide it through the air and into position.
(With inputs from TOI and Reuters)
For the first time, the "Super Heavy" booster was returned to the launch tower using giant mechanical arms.
Tower view of the first Super Heavy booster catch pic.twitter.com/Bgjeyuw7Hf
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 14, 2024
The lower half of the rocket maneuvered back to the launch tower, achieving a world-first for SpaceX. This successful catch is a step forward in SpaceX's goal of developing a fully reusable rocket system.
Super Heavy landing burn and catch pic.twitter.com/wppBezuOet
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 14, 2024
This development is crucial for NASA's mission to send astronauts back to the moon.
SpaceX engineers described the event as "a day for the history books," celebrating the safe landing of the Super Heavy booster. Despite concerns that the booster might end up in the Gulf of Mexico, it made a flawless return, exceeding expectations on the first attempt.
The final phase of Super Heavy's landing burn used the three center Raptor engines to precisely steer into catch position pic.twitter.com/BxQbOmT4yk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 14, 2024
The historic launch and catch
In a significant milestone for reusable space technology, SpaceX successfully returned the first stage of its Starship rocket to its Texas launch pad on Sunday using massive metal arms, marking the first time this feat has been achieved. The booster recovery occurred during the company's fifth Starship test flight, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop a reusable spacecraft for missions to the moon and Mars.
The "Super Heavy" booster, standing 233 feet (71 meters) tall, launched from SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility at 7:25 a.m. CT (1225 GMT), Reuters reported. It propelled the second stage Starship rocket toward space before detaching at an altitude of around 70 km (40 miles) to begin its descent back to Earth.
During its return, the booster reignited three of its 33 Raptor engines to slow its descent, aiming for the very launch tower from which it had taken off. The tower, equipped with large metal arms designed to catch the booster, successfully captured the massive rocket as it fell. The booster locked itself into place using its four forward grid fins, which helped guide it through the air and into position.
(With inputs from TOI and Reuters)
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