SpaceX achieved a world-first engineering feat on the weekend, successfully launching a Starship rocket before landing part of the ship safely back on its launchpad.
The 121-metre-tall uncrewed rocket lifted off at 7:25 am CDT (12:15 pm GMT) from SpaceX’s launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. The rocket’s lower section, known as the Super Heavy booster, separated from the rocket before returning towards the launchpad. The booster decelerated using its built-in engines, and was caught by a pair of mechanical arms. This was the first time this manoeuvre had been attempted.
The rocket’s upper section continued upwards to an altitude of around 144 kilometres, circling the Earth for around one hour before splashing down off the western coast of Australia.
Catching the spaceship’s booster is expected to reduce the cost of space exploration, as SpaceX hopes to reuse the booster for future launches. SpaceX’s goal is to produce a “fully and rapidly reusable” spacecraft.
“Big step towards making life multiplanetary was made today”, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
SpaceX had launched four previous Starships during 2023 and 2024. All were destroyed, either exploding during the launch or crashing into the Gulf of Mexico.
Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. NASA has invested around US$4 billion into SpaceX’s Starship programme, and aims to use Starship to bring American astronauts to the moon’s South Pole in 2026.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX on the launch, writing on X that “continued testing will prepare us for the bold missions that lie ahead -- including to the South Pole region of the Moon and then on to Mars.”
SpaceX produces the only American spacecraft currently certified to carry astronauts. The company’s other main endeavour, Starlink, operates thousands of Internet satellites orbiting in Earth’s atmosphere. SpaceX recently bid to invest US$1.5 billion to expand Starlink in Vietnam.
The company is valued at around US$210 billion, as of June 2024.
The successful Starship launch will likely reassure SpaceX’s investors, who previously told Bloomberg the company’s finances were opaque.
The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration has reprimanded SpaceX for refusing to follow its licence conditions and operating without a permit.
The FAA announced last month that it would seek to fine SpaceX US$633,000.
Sunday’s launch was originally delayed to November while the FAA reviewed SpaceX’s permits and the company’s environmental impact.
SpaceX has been conducting pre-launch tests for its sixth Starship rocket, but no date is set for its flight.