Test Flight Triumph
successfully captured the first-stage booster of its rocket using mechanical arms, a first for the company, during a test flight from , on October 13, 2024.
The Starship, towering nearly 400 feet, launched at sunrise and aimed for a controlled splashdown of its upper stage in the , marking a significant step in SpaceX's reusability goals.
Engineering Milestone
and SpaceX celebrated the successful booster catch as a monumental engineering achievement, with the launch tower's "chopsticks" playing a crucial role in the operation.
This test flight, which included upgrades to software and heat shield improvements, demonstrates SpaceX's commitment to rapid iterative testing and reusability, aiming to expedite launch rates and reduce costs.