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.
Explore this event on the interactive timeline →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.
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.