On October 16, 2024, SpaceX achieved a significant milestone by catching a Super Heavy booster mid-air using massive robotic arms, nicknamed “chopsticks.” The test took place at SpaceX’s launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. This event marked a major step forward in the company’s efforts to develop a fully reusable rocket system for interplanetary missions.
The Super Heavy booster launched and returned to the same launch pad just seven minutes later. In a high-precision maneuver, the mechanical arms successfully gripped the 232-foot booster as it descended, avoiding a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. This achievement is a pivotal advancement toward making space travel more sustainable and cost-effective. SpaceX founder Elon Musk celebrated the event on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as a breakthrough in humanity’s journey to become a multi-planetary species.
NASA also praised the achievement, noting its relevance to future Artemis missions that aim to land astronauts on the moon’s south pole. The reusability of large components like the booster is expected to streamline operations and drastically reduce launch costs.
The mission demonstrated further software upgrades and heat-shield improvements compared to previous flights. The successful catch underscores SpaceX’s ambition to develop the Starship system not only for lunar missions but also for future human expeditions to Mars.