From CNBC: 2024-10-13 10:18:49

SpaceX successfully caught the Super Heavy booster of its Starship rocket during the fifth test flight on Oct. 13, 2024. The milestone brings the company closer to achieving a fully reusable rocket system. The booster landed on the launch tower arms nearly seven minutes after liftoff, with no crew on board.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX on the achievement, emphasizing the importance of continued testing for future missions. The Starship rocket separated after the catch, flying halfway around the Earth before splashing down in the Indian Ocean as planned. SpaceX aims to conduct hundreds of Starship missions before crewed flights.

The Starship system, with four previous spaceflight tests, is designed to be fully reusable for cargo and crewed missions beyond Earth. SpaceX’s contract with NASA for the Artemis Moon program highlights the rocket’s critical role in space exploration. The FAA granted a launch license for the fifth Starship flight sooner than expected, following environmental regulatory challenges.

SpaceX surpassed milestones from previous tests with the successful booster catch. The company met its goal of returning the booster to the launch site and using tower arms for the catch. Thousands of criteria had to be met for the ambitious approach, ensuring safety for the team and the public. The successful catch is vital for making the rocket fully reusable.

The Starship rocket, standing 397 feet tall with the Super Heavy booster, is the tallest and most powerful ever launched. The booster, at 232 feet, initiates the rocket’s journey with 33 Raptor engines producing 16.7 million pounds of thrust. Starship, at 165 feet, has six Raptor engines powered by liquid oxygen and methane, requiring over 10 million pounds of propellant.



Read more at CNBC: SpaceX Starship rocket launch: Flight 5 catches booster