SpaceX successfully launched the fifth test flight of its Starship vehicle on October 13, as the Super Heavy rocket booster made a historic landing back at the launch pad near Boca Chica, Texas. The booster, nicknamed “Mechazilla,” returned to the pad, suspended mid-air between two colossal metal arms known as “chopsticks,” prompting loud cheers from SpaceX engineers and viewers of the live stream.
The Super Heavy booster completed its portion of the mission after detaching from the Starship spacecraft in a dramatic “hot staging” maneuver, which pushed Starship away by igniting its engines. With the booster safely returned, the focus has shifted to the Starship spacecraft, which is currently coasting through space. Starship is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere within an hour, attempting a high-stakes landing over the Indian Ocean.
“This is absolutely insane!” exclaimed SpaceX engineer Kate Tice as she celebrated the booster’s successful return. The flight was packed with pivotal moments, including the intense “Max Q” phase when the vehicle endured maximum dynamic pressure. After the tower was declared ready, SpaceX engineers gave the final command for the Super Heavy booster to attempt its landing, completing this key milestone in SpaceX’s ambitious Starship development program.
Key Points:
- Successful Starship Test Flight: SpaceX launched the fifth test flight of Starship, with key milestones achieved during the mission.
- Historic Landing of Super Heavy Booster: The Super Heavy booster made a successful return to the launch pad at Boca Chica, Texas, using SpaceX’s “Mechazilla” launch tower system.
- Hot Staging Maneuver: The Starship spacecraft separated from the Super Heavy booster via a high-energy “hot staging” maneuver, igniting its own engines to push away.
- Starship Continues Mission: After detaching, Starship is now coasting through space and is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere within an hour, aiming for a landing in the Indian Ocean.
- Maximum Dynamic Pressure: During flight, the vehicle passed through “Max Q,” the point of maximum dynamic pressure, as it traveled at high speed through the dense atmosphere.
