SpaceX successfully catches Starship booster using launch tower arms
Tech Desk
SpaceX achieved a milestone by capturing the Starship vehicle with its “Mechazilla” launch and catch tower for the first time. The maneuver took place at approximately 4:20 PM ET, as the craft descended through the clouds and positioned itself between the tower's arms.
Advertisement
While the company has previously executed “chopstick” catches of its boosters, this marks the first instance of the procedure being performed on the Starship vehicle. During the company’s third-quarter earnings call, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated, “success is not guaranteed on these first flights, but I’d say it’s more likely than not that this succeeds next flight.”
The operation follows an earlier attempt where the Starship Flight 15 booster had to abort its landing. The vehicle subsequently detonated over the Gulf of Mexico, and according to SpaceX, investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of that failure.
