SpaceX makes history with first-ever mid-air catch of Starship spacecraft
The achievement marks a major milestone in the push for fully reusable rockets, which could significantly reduce mission costs and allow for more frequent launches
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SpaceX Pulls Off First-ever Spaceship 'Catch'
Elon Musk's SpaceX on Saturday pulled off the first-ever "catch" of a spaceship, a technical feat showing the feasibility of fully reusable rockets that would bring affordable spaceflight one step closer to reality. The Starship emerged from the clouds after surviving the extreme heat of re-entering Earth's atmosphere, then descended slowly over SpaceX's south Texas Starbase before slipping smoothly between mechanical "chopstick arms" above Launch Pad 2.
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SpaceX’s Starship captured by launch pad arms
SpaceX’s Starship successfully returned from orbit, captured by launch pad arms in Texas. However, its first-stage booster exploded shortly after launch.
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SpaceX carries out first-ever spaceship capture
The successful recovery of SpaceX's Starship marks a breakthrough in founder Elon Musk’s goal of developing a fully reusable rocket system.