SpaceX achieved a historic milestone on October 13, 2024, during its fifth Starship test flight by successfully catching the returning Super Heavy booster with its mechanical arms, known as “Mechazilla,” named by founder Elon Musk. The booster was retrieved mid-air after launching from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, marking a groundbreaking moment in spaceflight history and a significant step toward rocket reusability.
The event was streamed live, showcasing the booster’s controlled descent to the launchpad, where the mechanical “chopsticks” safely captured it. A SpaceX spokesperson hailed the day as “one for the engineering history books.” Musk celebrated the achievement on social media, declaring, “The tower has caught the rocket!!”
This mission, which launched at 7:25 a.m. ET, is part of SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of space travel through the reuse of rocket components. Meanwhile, the upper stage of Starship continued its mission, successfully splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
