SpaceX has done what many thought impossible. The team was able to capture a returning rocket booster at the very same launch site it blasted off from just minutes before. This is a stunning accomplishment. If you haven’t seen it, check it out below.
The mission was the fifth for Starship and clearly the most successul. Giant mechanical arms ‘grabbed’ the booster as just three Raptor engines guided the super heavy booster into the catch zone.
Aside from the from the booster catch, SpaceX also nailed a controlled splashdown of the Starship upper stage in the Indian Ocean. This was made possible thanks to a complete overhaul of its heatshield. SpaceX techs spent more than 12,000 hours replacing the entire thermal protection system with newer-generation tiles, a backup ablative layer, and additional protections between the flap structures.
Thanks to Starlink we were able to see the upper stage make its return all the way to the water landing about an hour after launch. This showed just how much heat was generated during the return space.
The flight path did not need a deorbit burn for reentry.
The Super Heavy Booster must be slowed from supersonic speeds before approaching the launch/landing site. This happens very later in the process and it also results in sonic booms.
The reasons for the booster catch include saving weight (no landing gear) and improving turnaround time as it’s a reusable rocket. It’s a another massive step towards Elon Musk’s goal for flights to the Moon and Mars.
