On October 13, 2024, SpaceX achieved an important milestone by conducting a successful test flight of its Starship rocket. The launch took place at sunrise from the southern tip of Texas, near the Mexican border. This nearly 400-foot (121-meter) tall rocket demonstrated an impressive landing procedure, which involved catching the returning booster with mechanical arms at the launch pad. This flight highlighted significant advancements in technology compared to previous attempts that faced failures. The CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, expressed enthusiasm for this achievement, emphasizing that it was “science fiction without the fiction part.” This test flight revealed improved capabilities, especially in landing procedures, which are crucial for future missions to the moon and Mars.

Following liftoff, the booster returned to the launch pad around seven minutes later, under careful supervision. The mechanical arms, known as “chopsticks,” secured the booster, marking a significant moment in space exploration. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that this advancement is vital for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to bring astronauts back to the moon’s south pole. Continued testing of the Starship is essential for achieving this ambitious goal. Meanwhile, the Starship spacecraft ascended over 130 miles (212 kilometers) before landing successfully in the Indian Ocean, demonstrating its operational viability. SpaceX aspires to repeat successful booster recovery practices, using the Starship’s 33 methane-fueled engines, making it the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.