SpaceX has successfully returned the Starship rocket’s first-stage booster to its launch pad in Texas using giant metal arms in its fifth test flight, marking a significant engineering achievement in developing a reusable vehicle for lunar and Martian missions, Reuters reports.
The Super Heavy booster separated from the Starship’s second-stage rocket at around 70 km (40 miles) altitude. The booster then reignited three of its Raptor engines to slow its descent, targeting the launch tower equipped with large metal arms, and successfully hooked onto the tower using its grid fins for guidance.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk celebrated the achievement, which is part of the company’s efforts to develop a fully reusable rocket for missions to the moon and Mars. Starship, first introduced in 2017, has faced challenges in earlier tests, including several explosions, but finally completed its first full flight in June.
