SpaceX successfully conducted its fifth test flight of the Starship rocket on Sunday, achieving a remarkable first catch of the booster, which towers over 20 stories.
The launch took place at 8:25 a.m. ET from the company’s Starbase facility located near Brownsville, Texas. In an impressive display, the “Super Heavy” booster returned and landed safely within the arms of the launch tower.
During the live broadcast, SpaceX communications manager Dan Huot expressed excitement, stating, “What we just saw, that looked like magic.”
Following separation, Starship proceeded into space with the goal of traveling halfway around the Earth before reentering the atmosphere and ultimately splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a launch license for this flight on Saturday, ahead of its expected timeline. No crew members were aboard the fifth flight.
Thus far, SpaceX has conducted four full Starship rocket system test flights, with previous launches occurring in April and November of last year, as well as in March and June. Each flight has surpassed the accomplishments of its predecessors.
In June, Starship marked a significant milestone by successfully completing a flight test, landing in the Indian Ocean after enduring the rigors of atmospheric reentry. The booster was also able to make a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Starship system is engineered to be fully reusable, aiming to revolutionize cargo and passenger transport beyond Earth. It also plays a vital role in NASA’s initiative to return astronauts to the moon, as SpaceX secured a multibillion-dollar contract to utilize Starship as a crewed lunar lander for the Artemis moon program.
SpaceX has indicated plans for hundreds of Starship missions before any crewed launches take place. The company highlights its commitment to learning from previous flights to enhance the development of the rocket.
Despite their eagerness to proceed with the fifth flight earlier in October, both SpaceX and Elon Musk have criticized the FAA for delays, attributing them to unnecessary environmental reviews. Although the FAA, alongside partner agencies, expedited assessments, SpaceX has faced fines for unauthorized water discharges at its Texas launch site.
With the successful catch of the booster, SpaceX has achieved a new benchmark beyond the fourth test flight. The booster returned to the launch site, where the tower’s “chopstick” arms captured it. The ambitious catch method is seen as essential to making the rocket fully reusable.
SpaceX emphasized the extensive preparation and testing by its engineers for this attempt, stating that technicians invested tens of thousands of hours into developing the necessary infrastructure for success. The catch required meeting thousands of criteria, and if unprepared, the booster would have diverted to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico instead.
“SpaceX accepts no compromises regarding public safety and will only attempt the return under suitable conditions,” the company affirmed.
Starship is notable for being both the tallest and most powerful rocket ever launched, standing 397 feet tall when fully stacked on the Super Heavy booster. The booster itself is 232 feet tall and equipped with 33 Raptor engines, generating a combined thrust of 16.7 million pounds—approximately double that of NASA’s Space Launch System, which made its first launch in 2022.
The Starship, measuring 165 feet, includes six Raptor engines designed for atmospheric and vacuum conditions. The rocket operates using liquid oxygen and liquid methane, requiring over 10 million pounds of propellant for each launch.