SpaceX
SpaceX successfully recovers Starship’s booster in first attempt
On Sunday, October 13, SpaceX achieved a major milestone in the Starship flight test program and recovered the rocket’s Super Heavy booster in the first attempt.
The company launched this mega rocket from Boca Chica Starbase Texas in the morning. The primary objective of this mission was to catch the booster after hot-staging via the launch tower.
This sequence went well with flight 5, the rocket lifted off with full engine power and achieved max q. Then it separated the first stage and sent it flying back to the landing zone trajectory.
On its way to the Mechazilla (launch tower), the mission control commander sent a command to get the arms in sync with the landing burn with 13 of its engines. The booster performed a sonic boom and then made its way to the launch site.
In the final phase, the tower arms aligned with the booster and deployed in that direction, followed by the catch.
SpaceX engineers and the on-ground team have been preparing for this step for the past few years. Now, this is finally achieved.
Watch the catch below.
Mechazilla has caught the Super Heavy booster! pic.twitter.com/6R5YatSVJX
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2024
