SpaceX successfully completed a landmark achievement during its fifth Starship test flight on October 13, 2024. The company's Super Heavy booster was caught mid-air by mechanical arms—referred to as “Mechazilla” by SpaceX founder Elon Musk—after launching from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. This marked the first time in spaceflight history that a booster was retrieved in this manner, showcasing the company's progress toward rapid rocket reusability.
Mechazilla has caught the Super Heavy booster! pic.twitter.com/6R5YatSVJX
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2024
SpaceX's livestream featured the booster’s controlled descent to the launchpad, where the mechanical "chopsticks" safely captured the rocket. A SpaceX spokesperson described the event as “a day for the engineering history books.” Musk celebrated the achievement, posting on social media: "The tower has caught the rocket!!”
The mission, which launched at 7:25 a.m. ET, is part of SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to make space travel more efficient and cost-effective by reusing rocket components. The upper stage of Starship continued its flight, splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
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