SpaceX, which was able to capture the falling rocket propellant with a mechanical arm
SpaceX has set a new milestone in spaceflight history.
This Sunday, SpaceX made its fifth test launch of a giant Starship rocket from Starbase near Brownsville, Texas. The rocket was pushed with a booster called Super Heavy.
Several minutes after launch, the Super Heavy landed back on the ground. This booster, which came down to earth from a height of 40 miles with a fiery flame, was captured by two large mechanical arms on the launch platform.
Being able to do this has fulfilled SpaceX’s dream of being able to reuse rockets that have already been launched. Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has long been trying to get rocket boosters back from launch pads.
By being able to launch and fully reuse rocket boosters, the cost of space launches could be much lower, and would benefit future space missions.
Previously, SpaceX had been able to reuse Falcon 9 rockets after launch, but only a portion of those vehicles could be reused.
This breakthrough paves the way for the reuse of two key Starship components: the Starship vehicles that carry the satellites and the Super Heavy Boosters that propel these spacecraft.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised SpaceX’s success on social media, saying, “These tests will prepare us for missions from the lunar rover to Mars.”
