How SpaceX Landed A Rocket... Without Landing Legs. Catching a Giant Rocket With Giant Chopsticks

This morning SpaceX performed the 5th flight of their Starship/SuperHeavy launch system and once again made a clear step forward as they demonstrated precision touchdown with both the booster and the Starship. The booster touchdown demonstrated a radical new recovery method with the rocket carefully maneuvering next to a tower to be caught by a pair of arms, eliminating complicated articulating legs and shock absorbers.

The Starship stage flew to the Indian ocean and guided itself to a precision touchdown next to a buoy with a camera, delivering video of the landing and showing the accuracy of the guidance. Even more impressive when it became clear how much damage the control surfaces sustained during entry.

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[msbealo]

This feels like watching the Apollo launches. Space hasn't been this exciting for decades.

[KellAnderson]

I love that "Sure, SpaceX can land boosters on drone ships" is a thing we just say in passing these days.

[andrewkelly]

Amid all the excitement of catching the booster, no one seems to be commenting on the amazing achievement that (because of Starlink) for the first time, we got full, uninterrupted live video coverage of a spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere from orbit to touchdown, all the way through the plasma phase. Has this suddenly become routine already? Congratulations to the Starlink team!

[mckrunchytoast]

Space X effectively just proved they can parallel park a rocket. What an absolutely awesome thing to see. Scott fantastic video, your commentary and insights are second to none for us.

[BBBrasil]

52 years ago I didn't know I was watching the end of an era. Now I am watching the dawn of a new era 🎉🎉

[huyxiun]

1:50: *Me, watching the KSP demonstration in awe, since even in KSP precise soft landing is a super challenge*


... Scott: "I also had the possibility to play the video backwards"

[AndrewSarchus-fs]

Did I just watch a massive building perform an elegant millimeter-precise dance in the air and finally get plucked back to Earth by another giant building? Nah, must've been a wild dream.

[jajssblue]

What an amazing era for space engineering! Feels like seeing the Hubble Telescope's pictures when I was a kid all over again. My brain can barely comprehend it. Couldn't wait to see your video on it!

[N.I.R.A.T.I.A.S.]

I don't normally get excited about this stuff but the tower catching the booster was about the coolest, craziest, most brilliant thing I've ever seen.

[laskey]

A flame twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty, a building catching a building, and a vapor cone next to a plasma sheath. Awesome.🎉

[tuberroot]

Scott Manley is the always the best and most technically competent commentary for these missions. Great coverage once again.

[mikeissweet]

The cheering at SpaceX when they managed to pluck that booster with the chopsticks was an 11/10. Reminiscent of the first booster landing years ago.

[Gfc]

Congratulations to everyone involved.
Rarely in my 60 years have I been so gobsmacked as I was this morning. What a truly incredible achievement in engineering.

[frankcastle]

I was literally biting my fingers in anticipation for the catch, has to be one of the most memorable moments

[martynwarren]

Every time space x does something world changing it does another. What an incredible company. I’m so glad I’m alive during this time.

[lowmax]

This was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my entire life.

[RustyorBroken]

Thanks for getting this video out so quickly, Scott.

[GavinFAllison]

The first time the Falcon Heavy boosters did a RTLS was amazing. The catch beats that by a ridiculous margin. My whole family were shouting at the TV as it came in. Spectacular!
Great analysis Scott.

[ulrichwinkler]

01:30 "... i also had the ability to play the video backwards" 🤣🤣🤣

[stefanfritzsche]

a big THANK YOU goes out to that brave BOY in the middle of the Indian Ocean .. thankyou for those awesome final pictures of what has been an absolutely incredible day for Starship!