On October 14, 2024, SpaceX successfully launched and landed its fifth Starship, marking a significant advancement in aerospace technology. This launch was notable not only for its execution but also for the method of landing the booster.
The booster did not land on a floating platform as in previous missions; instead, it was captured mid-air by mechanical arms known as 'Mechazilla' at the launch pad. This innovative approach was executed just seven minutes after launch, showcasing a new level of precision in rocket recovery.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, had elevated the challenge for this mission by employing these mechanical arms to secure the booster. The arms, designed to function like chopsticks, successfully caught the 232-foot tall booster as it descended.
SpaceX's flight director played a crucial role in determining the booster’s descent speed and trajectory to ensure a safe capture. The success of this mission hinged on precise real-time adjustments and robust preparations that had been in place for months.
Had the landing failed, the booster could have met the same fate as the first four Starships, which exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. The use of retro engines on the stainless steel spacecraft aided in controlling its descent.
This mission represents a shift towards fully reusable rockets, a concept SpaceX has been refining with its Falcon-9 rockets over the past nine years. Unlike the Falcon-9, which lands on floating platforms, this was the first time a Starship booster was captured by a ground-based system.