On 14 October 2024, SpaceX achieved a major milestone by catching the massive booster stage of its Starship rocket using robotic arms as it returned to the launchpad in southern Texas. After liftoff, the Super Heavy booster successfully returned, while the upper stage was scheduled to splash down in the Indian Ocean.
The Starship rocket, at 71 meters tall, is the largest and most powerful spacecraft ever built and is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable. This breakthrough is part of SpaceX’s goal to develop a reusable rocket system similar to airplanes, capable of landing, refueling, and launching again within hours. The success of this reusable system is crucial for reducing space travel costs and facilitating more frequent missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
