SpaceX

2024 - 10 - 13

SpaceX's Catch of the Century: From Rockets to Milestones!

Elon Musk - Europa Clipper - Interplanetary Travel - Mechazilla - NASA - Reusable Rockets - SpaceX - Starship

Elon Musk's SpaceX makes history with a jaw-dropping booster catch! Is it magic or just brilliant engineering? Dive into the thrilling details!

In a spectacular display of engineering prowess, SpaceX launched its colossal Starship rocket for the fifth time on October 13, making headlines with a daring mid-air catch of its Super Heavy booster. This unprecedented maneuver took place just off the Texas coast, where the returning booster was snatched by the launch tower's mechanical arms, affectionately dubbed "Mechazilla" by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Shrouded in early morning light, this bold test flight aimed for a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, marking a significant milestone in SpaceX's quest to revolutionize space travel.

The launch not only showcased SpaceX's innovative technology but also took a giant leap toward Musk's ambitious vision of making life multi-planetary. With the Starship program designed for missions to the moon and Mars, this successful operation highlights the company's commitment to reusability—a game changer in reducing the costs associated with space exploration. Collectively, these achievements signal a new dawn of space exploration where every mission is a step toward humanity’s off-Earth aspirations.

What's fascinating is the culmination of engineering expertise that led to this momentous occasion. The chopstick-like arms employed to catch the booster are a testament to SpaceX's relentless pursuit of optimization. Instead of parachutes or landing gear, these mechanical arms minimize waste and maximize recovery efficiency. Engineers have tirelessly tested and fine-tuned the technology, proving that a few extra robotics can make history right from the launch pad.

So, what does this mean for the future? With each test, SpaceX inches closer to paving the way for interplanetary voyages and commercial flights beyond Earth's atmosphere. Fun fact: each launch not only serves as a test but also furthers NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon by the mid-2020s. And in a quirky twist of fate, while SpaceX's rockets reach for the stars, musicians back here on Earth are still figuring out how to catch a beat! Who knew engineering and rhythm could share the same spotlight?

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

SpaceX launches Starship rocket and catches booster in giant metal ... (The Guardian)

Elon Musk's enormous rocket sets off on boldest test flight yet as it targets controlled splashdown in Indian Ocean.

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

SpaceX successfully catches returning Starship booster with ... (FRANCE 24)

SpaceX's Starship test flight this Sunday achieved a world first: using the launch tower's "chopstick" arms – referred to as "Mechazilla" by SpaceX founder ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

SpaceX 'catches' giant Starship rocket booster in fifth flight test (Aljazeera.com)

SpaceX launches enormous rocket on boldest test flight yet, catching returning booster back at pad with mechanical arms.

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Image courtesy of "Space.com"

SpaceX catches giant Starship booster during historic Flight 5 rocket ... (Space.com)

SpaceX launched its enormous Starship rocket for the fifth time ever Oct. 13, on a test flight that featured a mid-air catch of the first-stage Super Heavy ...

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

SpaceX launches 5th Starship — with a catch (POLITICO.eu)

The giant Starship rocket is designed to fulfill Elon Musk's ambition to send people to the moon and, eventually, to Mars.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

SpaceX catches giant Starship booster in fifth flight test (Reuters)

The company achieved another novel engineering feat in its push to build a reusable moon and Mars vehicle.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Musk's SpaceX catches returning booster rocket in technical milestone (Financial Times)

At dawn on the Texas coast, SpaceX launched an unmanned Starship rocket with its “super heavy booster”. After a brief flight into the atmosphere, the booster ...

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Image courtesy of "SpaceNews"

SpaceX launches fifth Starship, catches Super Heavy booster (SpaceNews)

SpaceX launched its fifth Starship vehicle Oct. 13, successfully making an unprecedented “catch” of its Super Heavy booster back at the launch site.

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Image courtesy of "PBS NewsHour"

In engineering feat by SpaceX, mechanical arms catch Starship ... (PBS NewsHour)

SpaceX pulled off the boldest test flight yet of its enormous Starship rocket on Sunday, catching the returning booster back at the launch pad with ...

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

SpaceX catches Starship rocket booster in dramatic landing during ... (NBC News)

SpaceX launched its fifth test flight of its Starship rocket on Sunday and made a dramatic first catch of the rocket's more than 20-story tall booster.

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Image courtesy of "NASASpaceflight.com"

SpaceX navigates Q3 anomalies, starting ambitious Q4 goals ... (NASASpaceflight.com)

SpaceX's record-breaking streak of successful launches and landings ended during the third quarter of 2024, having suffered a failure during launch with ...

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Image courtesy of "Spaceflight Now"

SpaceX pulls off mid-air launch pad capture of descending Super ... (Spaceflight Now)

Super Heavy Booster 12 returns to the pad it launched from just seven minutes earlier. Image: Adam Bernstein / Spaceflight Now. In one of the most dramatic, ...

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Image courtesy of "Euronews"

SpaceX catches Starship rocket booster as it returns to Earth (Euronews)

SpaceX pulled off its boldest test flight yet of the enormous Starship rocket on Sunday, catching the returning booster back at the launch pad with ...

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Image courtesy of "USA TODAY"

SpaceX launches Starship the 5th time; successfully catches booster ... (USA TODAY)

Mechazilla, a giant metal arm, successfully caught SpaceX's descending rocket booster during fifth test launch.

SpaceX's Starship launch a success (NPR)

SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket from Boca Chica, TX and successfully caught the booster portion of the two-stage rocket back at the launch pad, ...

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Image courtesy of "BizNews"

FT: Musk's SpaceX catches returning booster rocket in technical ... (BizNews)

SpaceX achieved a major milestone with the successful test of its Starship rocket, advancing its goal of fully reusable spacecraft.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Why SpaceX rocket catch is such a big deal (Aljazeera.com)

After SpaceX's world-first success in catching a rocket booster as it returned to earth, we heard from aerospace engineer Scott Walter about why it was so ...

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Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

WATCH: Elon Musk's SpaceX makes history - but what did it cost? (Independent Online)

History was made on Sunday as Elon Musk's SpaceX was able to “catch” the booster of its Starship rocket after a test flight.

SpaceX scores major successes with fifth test flight of its new rocket ... (Creamer Media's Engineering News)

US space company SpaceX successfully executed an unprecedented achievement on Sunday. For the first time, a launch rocket (booster) successfully returned to ...

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Image courtesy of "Spaceflight Now"

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch NASA's Europa Clipper on Falcon ... (Spaceflight Now)

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket stands in launch position in preparation of NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which is set to launch on Oct. 14, 2024.

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Image courtesy of "WIRED"

SpaceX's Dramatic Rocket Catch Brings Interplanetary Travel One ... (WIRED)

By proving that its Super Heavy booster can return to Earth and land, SpaceX has moved closer to creating a reusable interplanetary transport system.

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Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

NASA's Europa Clipper launches aboard SpaceX rocket (Los Angeles Times)

NASA probe launches aboard SpaceX rocket, bound for Jupiter's icy ocean moon to search for the building blocks of life.

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Image courtesy of "NASASpaceflight.com"

LIVE: NASA, SpaceX set for launch of historic Europa Clipper ... (NASASpaceflight.com)

NASA and SpaceX are set for the launch of NASA's Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's icy moon Europa atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

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Image courtesy of "Space.com"

SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches NASA's Europa Clipper ... (Space.com)

Europa Clipper launched today (Oct. 14) atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida, kicking off a highly anticipated astrobiology mission to the Jupiter ...

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Image courtesy of "Via Satellite"

SpaceX Follows Milestone Starship Test With Europa Clipper Falcon ... (Via Satellite)

SpaceX hit an eye-catching milestone with its Starship test flight on Sunday from Texas, successfully catching the Super Heavy booster in the first attempt ...

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Image courtesy of "SatNews Publishers"

SpaceX launches Europa Clipper, NASA's largest spacecraft to ... (SatNews Publishers)

On Monday, October 14 at 12:06 p.m. ET Falcon Heavy launched NASA's Europa Clipper mission from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ...

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

In an engineering feat, mechanical SpaceX arms catch Starship ... (ABC News)

SpaceX pulled off the boldest test flight yet of its enormous Starship rocket on Sunday, catching the returning booster back at the launch pad with ...

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Image courtesy of "The Indian Express"

Why SpaceX 'catching' Starship booster with robotic arms is significant (The Indian Express)

SpaceX's Starship rocket system achieved a significant milestone on Sunday, with robotic arms catching the first stage booster after launch, bringing the ...

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Image courtesy of "SatNews Publishers"

SpaceX's successful Sunday Starship launch — lucky 13, and on ... (SatNews Publishers)

Following a successful liftoff, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and coast, the Super Heavy booster performed its landing burn and was caught by the ...

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Image courtesy of "CBS Dallas / Fort Worth"

Texas at forefront of space exploration: NASA and SpaceX make ... (CBS Dallas / Fort Worth)

SpaceX's Starship launch from Boca Chica, Texas, marked the first successful return of a booster rocket to its launch site.

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