SpaceX Successfully Catches Starship Booster in Fifth Test Flight, Marking a Major Milestone

SpaceX achieved a significant milestone during its fifth Starship test flight, as the Super Heavy booster returned to its launch pad using giant mechanical arms. This innovative engineering feat brings SpaceX closer to building a reusable moon and Mars vehicle.

Successful Booster Catch at Texas Launch Pad

On Sunday, at 7:25 a.m. CT (1225 GMT), SpaceX launched the Super Heavy first stage booster from its Boca Chica, Texas facilities. The booster, part of the company’s Starship rocket, lifted the second stage toward space before separating at an altitude of 70 kilometers (40 miles). This marked the start of the most daring phase of the test, the booster’s return to land.

The 233-foot-tall (71 meters) Super Heavy booster used three of its 33 Raptor engines to slow its descent. It then targeted the launch tower, standing over 400 feet tall—higher than the Statue of Liberty—which is fitted with two massive mechanical arms.

In a novel maneuver, the booster hooked itself onto the tower’s arms by engaging small bars beneath its grid fins. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk celebrated the success on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “The tower has caught the rocket!!”

Progress in Reusability and Space Travel

This catch-landing method marks a significant advance in SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology, critical for transporting cargo to orbit, ferrying humans to the moon under NASA contracts, and eventually reaching Mars, Musk’s ultimate goal.

While the Super Heavy booster returned to Earth, the Starship second stage continued its flight, reaching speeds of 17,000 miles per hour at an altitude of 89 miles. It performed a controlled re-entry over the Indian Ocean, demonstrating a smooth splashdown 90 minutes after launch.

During re-entry, onboard cameras captured the superhot plasma surrounding the spacecraft, showing improved heat-shield tiles, a key enhancement since SpaceX’s June test flight.

Successful Test with Fiery Conclusion

As Starship re-entered the atmosphere, it ignited one of its six Raptor engines, positioning itself for a simulated landing in the Indian Ocean. The rocket touched down on the water before toppling onto its side. Moments later, it exploded into a fiery blast, concluding the test flight.

While it is unclear if the explosion was planned or due to a fuel leak, Musk confirmed that Starship landed “precisely on target.”

Future of SpaceX’s Starship Program

Starship, first revealed by Musk in 2017, has experienced multiple test explosions, but the company successfully completed a full flight in June. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted SpaceX a launch license for this fifth test after weeks of regulatory tension.

With this successful test flight, SpaceX has taken another step toward creating fully reusable rockets, which are essential for future lunar missions and Mars exploration.