SpaceX Catches Huge Rocket Booster For The First Time Now What

The sight was nothing short of breathtaking. A towering 70-meter SpaceX rocket skillfully making its descent towards a small designated area, where two enormous mechanical arms stood poised to catch it just above the ground.

This daring attempt marked SpaceX’s inaugural effort to “catch” the Super Heavy booster, and to the astonishment of many, it succeeded on the first try.

Thousands of distinct vehicle and pad criteria had to be met prior to catching the Super Heavy booster. Thanks to the tireless work of SpaceX engineers, we succeeded with catch on our first attempt. pic.twitter.com/6wa5v6xHI0

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2024

What’s next for SpaceX?

Currently, SpaceX aims to use the Super Heavy booster to launch a modified Starship spacecraft, known as the Starship Human Landing System (HLS), into lunar orbit as part of NASA’s Artemis III mission, possibly scheduled for 2026.

In preparation, the company must conduct numerous additional tests for the Starship system, which includes the first-stage Super Heavy booster—the most powerful rocket ever flown—and the upper-stage Starship spacecraft.

In the upcoming trials, which SpaceX plans to initiate by the end of the year, the team will focus on refining and perfecting the remarkable “catch” maneuver it executed successfully last Sunday. Successfully capturing the booster allows for efficient refurbishment of multiple Super Heavy units, enabling quicker turnarounds for future flights in a reusable system that significantly cuts operational costs.

Furthermore, SpaceX must prove its capability to refuel Starship in low Earth orbit, a critical requirement for forthcoming lunar missions. The company is also tasked with executing at least one uncrewed test flight in which the Starship HLS will land on the lunar surface and return to orbit.

The Artemis III mission will transport up to four astronauts to lunar orbit aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft. This spacecraft will be lifted by the agency’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

Simultaneously, the Starship HLS will reach lunar orbit after being propelled by the Super Heavy. It will then dock with Orion, allowing two crew members to switch vehicles and descend to the moon’s surface for the first crewed lunar landing since NASA’s final Apollo mission in 1972. After completing their surface operations, the Starship HLS will return the astronauts to lunar orbit for their journey home aboard Orion.

Looking ahead, SpaceX harbors even more ambitious aspirations, including utilizing Starship for a crewed mission to Mars and establishing a permanent human settlement on the red planet.

Elon Musk even has a more expansive vision. Following the success of the recent mission, he remarked on social media that this milestone represents a significant advancement towards making humanity a multiplanetary species. Musk had previously indicated that SpaceX’s goal is to transport 1 million people to Mars to build a self-sustaining city, a daunting challenge that may require innovations from future generations.