SpaceX made spaceflight history on October 13 during the fifth test flight of its Starship megarocket. Approximately seven minutes after liftoff, the vehicle's first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, successfully returned to its launch mount, where it was caught by the launch tower's 'chopstick' arms.
Company founder Elon Musk announced plans to replicate this success with Starship’s upper-stage spacecraft in the coming months. The fully reusable Starship, standing at 400 feet tall, is designed for missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as other space endeavors.
While the catching technique may not apply to all missions—especially those involving crewed flights to the Moon or Mars, which will require propulsive landings—SpaceX envisions using this method for many Earth orbit missions. This innovation could significantly enhance the efficiency of future space travel.