In SpaceX’s latest test flight, part of the rocket was captured as it returned to the launch site. This is the first time this has ever been tested and in practice means that rockets can be reused.
On Sunday, the fifth test flight of the “Starship” rocket took place in Texas During the test, the booster was manoeuvred back next to its launch tower where it was caught by a pair of giant mechanical arms It’s the first time anyone has ever tried this and despite the difficulty, SpaceX succeeded on the first attempt
– A day for the history books, say SpaceX engineers, according to the BBC
The idea is to be able to reuse the rocket, which will significantly reduce costs. The upper section, which carries astronauts and cargo, then successfully landed in the Indian Ocean. There too, the idea is to be able to reuse the upper section.
Mars next?
SpaceX founder Elon Musk is one step closer to his dream of one day sending humans to Mars.
“The world witnessed what the future will look like when Starship starts carrying crew and cargo to destinations on Earth, the Moon, Mars and beyond”, SpaceX writes on its website.
The tower has caught the rocket!!
pic.twitter.com/CPXsHJBdUh— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 13, 2024