SpaceX catches Starship rocket upper stage in midair with mechanical arms
In a major milestone for SpaceX, the company has successfully caught the upper stage of its giant Starship rocket in midair for the first time. The capture was carried out using giant mechanical arms nicknamed 'chopsticks,' designed to grasp the descending spacecraft out of the air. The feat marks an unprecedented technical achievement in the recovery of returning space hardware, demonstrating a smooth and historic return for the vehicle.
The spacecraft completed its journey back to Earth 22 hours after its departure. In an extraordinary display of navigational precision, the Starship upper stage returned directly to the original launch pad from which it had initially lifted off. The mechanical arms then intercepted and caught the returning spacecraft in midair, securing it at the launch pad 22 hours after it first departed.
The operation represents a defining technical success for the company's Starship program. By proving that a giant rocket's upper stage can return directly to its departure point and be caught cleanly midair by mechanical arms, SpaceX reached a pivotal milestone in its spacecraft development and recovery efforts.
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