SpaceX successfully caught its Super Heavy booster - the most powerful rocket ever built - using giant mechanical arms, during its fifth test flight.
Starship's second stage reached an altitude of 89 miles before splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk celebrated the success on social media.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised the achievement, highlighting its importance for future lunar missions.

On October 13, 2024, SpaceX conducted its fifth test flight of the Starship rocket system, achieving a groundbreaking feat by successfully catching its Super Heavy booster with the launch tower's mechanical arms.

The mission commenced at 7:25 a.m. CT from SpaceX's Boca Chica facility in Texas.

The Super Heavy booster lifted off alongside Starship, reaching an altitude of approximately 70 kilometers (40 miles) before separating from the second stage. As it descended back to Earth, it re-ignited three of its 33 Raptor engines to slow its fall.

This marked the first time the company executed such a catch landing, a critical step toward developing a fully reusable space vehicle capable of supporting missions to the Moon and Mars.

At the same time, Starship itself continued on its trajectory, cruising at about 17,000 miles per hour before performing a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after roughly 90 minutes in flight.

This achievement comes after years of preparations and four previous failed attempts. SpaceX aims to reduce costs associated with space travel and increase launch frequency by eliminating the need for extensive recovery operations typically required after rocket launches.