Starship: Super Heavy Caught by Chopsticks
SpaceX catches a 232-foot-tall, returning Super Heavy booster mid-air using massive mechanical arms on the launch tower.
On October 13, 2024, during Starship's 5th integrated flight test, SpaceX caught the returning Super Heavy booster using the "Mechazilla" launch tower's massive mechanical arms ("chopsticks"). The 232-foot-tall booster flew back to the launch site and was gently caught mid-air—eliminating the need for landing legs and enabling rapid turnaround. This was the key milestone toward fully reusable spaceflight.
Open in interactive timeline →Key Numbers
- Booster Height
- 232 feet
- Method
- Mechazilla Chopsticks
- Flight
- IFT-5
Verified Facts
- The booster weighs approximately 275 tons empty and stands 232 feet tall—the largest object ever caught in mid-air.
- The "chopstick" arms on the launch tower grip the booster at its grid fin attachment points, suspending it above the launch mount.
- This eliminates landing legs (saving weight and complexity) and positions the booster directly over the launch mount for rapid restacking.
- SpaceX is now preparing Starship V3 (Flight 12, May 2026) with even more powerful Raptor engines and targeting full reusability of BOTH stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Starship: Super Heavy Caught by Chopsticks?
On October 13, 2024, during Starship's 5th integrated flight test, SpaceX caught the returning Super Heavy booster using the "Mechazilla" launch tower's massive mechanical arms ("chopsticks"). The 232-foot-tall booster flew back to the launch site and was gently caught mid-air—eliminating the need for landing legs and enabling rapid turnaround. This was the key milestone toward fully reusable spaceflight.
When did Starship: Super Heavy Caught by Chopsticks happen?
Starship: Super Heavy Caught by Chopsticks: October 2024 CE.
Why does Starship: Super Heavy Caught by Chopsticks matter?
SpaceX catches a 232-foot-tall, returning Super Heavy booster mid-air using massive mechanical arms on the launch tower.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “Starship: Super Heavy Caught by Chopsticks.” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-09-11. https://askhistoryai.com/event/tech-starship-catch/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.