SpaceX uses giant arms to catch Starship rocket mid-air in groundbreaking test

SpaceX launched its massive Super Heavy-Starship rocket on Sunday, successfully using giant “mechazilla” mechanical arms to catch the descending first stage, while the upper stage continued its journey into space.

Using pincer-like arms known as “chopsticks,” the spectacular capture marked a major milestone in SpaceX’s push to develop fully reusable and quickly re-launchable rockets, a feat unmatched by earlier space programs that relied on disposable rockets.

The 397-foot-tall rocket launched from SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility on the Texas Gulf Coast at 8:25 a.m. EDT, delivering a stunning sunrise spectacle as its 33 methane-powered Raptor engines roared to life, sending a torrent of flaming exhaust.

Three minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff, the Super Heavy booster separated, flipped, and reignited 13 Raptors to head back toward the Texas coast, while the Starship upper stage continued its ascent into space powered by six Raptor engines.

Elon Musk’s vision of rapid rocket reuse takes shape

The remarkable capture, a pivotal step in SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s pursuit of “rapid reusability,” occurred while the Starship upper stage was still en route to space and preparing for splashdown in the Indian Ocean, simulating future landings on Earth, the moon, or Mars. Splashdown was anticipated an hour and five minutes after liftoff .

In the rocket’s fourth test flight in June, extreme heat inflicted severe damage on Starship’s protective tiles and steering fins. For Sunday’s flight, multiple upgrades were implemented to reduce or prevent similar re-entry damage.

The two-stage Super Heavy-Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket in the world, boasting twice the liftoff thrust of NASA’s iconic Saturn V and nearly double the power of the agency’s new Space Launch System moon rocket.

The Super Heavy first stage is 30 feet wide and stands 230 feet tall, loaded with 6.8 million pounds of liquid oxygen and methane. It is powered by 33 SpaceX-designed Raptor engines that produce up to 16 million pounds of thrust. The Starship upper stage is 160 feet long and carries 2.6 million pounds of propellant for six additional Raptor engines .

Vertical landing capabilities enhance reusability for future space travel

Both stages are fully reusable: the Super Heavy returns to its launch pad, while the Starship travels to and from Earth orbit, the moon, or even Mars. The Starship is designed to land vertically using its own rocket power at various locations on Earth and beyond.

The main objective of Sunday’s flight was to show that SpaceX can capture returning Super Heavy boosters on the launch pad for quick refurbishment, refueling, and relaunch .

SpaceX has already mastered first-stage landings with its Falcon 9 rockets, successfully recovering 352 boosters using powered touchdowns on landing pads or offshore droneships. The Falcon 9 first stages land autonomously, deploying four landing legs just seconds before touchdown.