SpaceX Successfully Executes First 'Chopstick' Catch of Starship Vehicle

Source Summary

SpaceX successfully captured its Starship vehicle with the 'Mechazilla' launch and catch tower for the first time, marking a major milestone in the company's reusable rocket development. While the company had previously performed 'chopstick' catches of its boosters, this represents the first successful execution of the maneuver on the Starship vehicle itself. The achievement comes after SpaceX aborted a planned catch of Starship Flight 15's booster.

Why it matters

Successful recovery and reuse of Starship vehicles is central to SpaceX's goal of reducing launch costs and enabling frequent space missions.

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• The Verge ↗