SpaceX successfully catches giant Starship rocket mid-air for the second time

SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of rocket technology, achieving another milestone with the successful mid-air catch of its Super Heavy booster during the Starship Flight 7 test.

The booster was caught using the towering “Mechazilla” launch tower at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, marking the second successful use of this complex recovery system.

After a 7.5-minute flight, the booster made its descent and was carefully guided into the tower’s “chopsticks” mechanism, a bold demonstration of precision engineering and a significant leap in the quest for fully reusable rockets. While the upper stage of the Starship encountered engine failures, losing communication 8.5 minutes into the mission, the booster’s recovery was seen as a clear success.

SpaceX Uses Mechanical “Chopsticks” to Catch Rocket Mid-air

Mechazilla has caught the Super Heavy booster! pic.twitter.com/aq91TloYzY

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 16, 2025

The Starship rocket, however, exploded midflight during a critical test, shortly after its booster was successfully captured by the “chopsticks” system.

“Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. Teams will continue to review data from today’s flight test to better understand root cause,” the company said on X on Thursday.

“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”

The upper stage’s malfunction led to its presumed disintegration, with debris observed over the Turks and Caicos. Despite this, the event showcased SpaceX’s unwavering commitment to refining its reusable rocket systems, a core part of the company’s long-term vision.

This second successful booster catch underscores SpaceX’s progress toward making space travel more sustainable and cost-effective. Each test adds valuable data, moving closer to achieving a fully operational, reusable system for future missions.

On October 14, 2024, SpaceX made history by capturing the massive Starship rocket booster mid-air with mechanical “chopsticks,” transforming a sci-fi concept into a groundbreaking reality.

The January 16, 2025 milestone reinforces SpaceX’s role as a trailblazer in the space industry, and while challenges remain, the strides made in booster recovery highlight a promising future for reusable spaceflight.