SpaceX has successfully demonstrated Starship’s ability to launch and return, caught by the arms of the launch and catch tower.
The test on techniques fundamental to Starship and Super Heavy’s fully and rapidly reusable design was performed yesterday (13 October 2024).
On its first try, the launch and catch tower Mechazilla caught the booster.
Following a successful liftoff, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and coast, the Super Heavy booster performed its landing burn and was caught by the chopstick arms of the launch and catch tower at Starbase.
You can watch the launch and catch here.
Prior to the catch, Starship had also executed a successful hot-staging separation, igniting its six Raptor engines and completing ascent into outer space. It coasted along its planned trajectory to the other side of the planet before executing a controlled re-entry, passing through the phases of peak heating and maximum aerodynamic pressure, before executing a flip, landing burn, and splashdown at its target area in the Indian Ocean. The flight test concluded at splashdown 1 hour, 5 minutes and 40 seconds after launch.