A groundbreaking new rocket recovery method has been achieved, marking a significant leap in space exploration. Last night, Elon Musk’s SpaceX company accomplished a remarkable feat – capturing and recovering a test-flight booster rocketusing launchpad robotic arms, realizing the so-called chopstick rocket capture. With the successful completion of Starship’s fifth test flight, SpaceXhas achieved another first, taking a crucial step towards making the Super Heavy rocket a fully reusable launch system, similar to the Falcon 9.
In June, during the previous test flight, the booster successfully performed a similar series ofmaneuvers, but ultimately crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to this flight, Musk expressed high confidence in its success. The test had two primary objectives: first, to attempt capture of the Super Heavy booster at the launchsite, and second, to ensure a controlled splashdown of the Starship itself in the Indian Ocean.
At 8:25 AM EST (8:25 PM Beijing time), the SpaceX Starship launched from the Boca Chica base in South Texas. After a flight duration of over three minutes, the first-stageSuper Heavy rocket (booster) separated from the second stage. The first stage then turned around, ignited its engines, and began its descent as planned. Around the seven-minute mark, the 233-foot (71-meter) tall, 250-ton booster rocket successfully returned tothe launchpad and was captured by a pair of deployable and rotating robotic arms (recovery mechanism), suspended in mid-air.
This chopstick capture method, envisioned by Musk eight years ago, represents a significant departure from traditional recovery techniques. It eliminates the need for landing legs and complex landing maneuvers,potentially reducing the cost and complexity of rocket reusability. This success paves the way for a new era of space exploration, with the potential for more frequent and affordable launches.
The successful recovery of the Super Heavy booster is a testament to SpaceX’s relentless pursuit of innovation and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of spacetechnology. This achievement not only marks a significant milestone for SpaceX, but also for the entire space industry, demonstrating the potential for reusable rockets to revolutionize space exploration.
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