How SpaceX Just CAUGHT A ROCKET BOOSTER

SpaceX just CAUGHT a rocket booster! This is the first time anyone’s ever done that. Here's why this was so hard and why it's such a big deal...

People have been trying to reuse expensive rocket components for a long time. Particularly the booster, the part that boosts the piece with people or cargo out of our atmosphere. NASA has their rocket boosters detach and fall into the ocean, which means a specialized dive team has to go get it from the ocean, disassemble, refurbish, and then reload it with propellant.

SpaceX found ways to make their boosters turn around and propel themselves back to specialized landing areas, which was already a big deal and there’ve been a lot of hurdles along the way…

That’s what makes this accomplishment so cool. Not only is it part of the biggest rocket ever, Starship, but it returned back to the exact spot it launched from and lowered itself precisely into giant metal arms on its first attempt.

This means the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket is also quickly reusable - opening up so many possibilities for the future of spaceflight.

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#animation #space #spacex #starship #rocket

[oscarv]

The engineeers working on it are frickin’ geniuses.

[geekchameleon]

In all the videos, it looks so simple 'cause it looks so small...and then you realize exactly how big that booster is. The fact that they did it on the first attempt is a testament to how amazing the crew SpaceX has hired actually is.

[YongKim-fx]

I got so excited like her. It is a big deal.

[juliusasks]

I said to my dad when we watched it, "they sent a 30 story building into space and then they caught the first 20 stories again." Unbelievable. Makes me so excited for the future of space exploration.

[EthelJung-jw]

They really caught a giant Redbull can with metal chopsticks. We live in a crazy time

[joshuab]

I spoke to the guy who is head of welding at space X. That rocket is 30 stories tall. The photos he showed me the the engine being welded are UNREAL. He looked at me smiling and said “we’re going to colonize mars”. That man is proud of what he does.

[sachinmore]

The entire humanity disproportionately benefits and is excelling because of very tiny percentage of really smart people like the engineers behind this. Man these nerds deserve far more credit than what they get.

[smiles]

This is one of the most astonishing things ive ever seen. The first time i saw this video, i thought someone was playing the launch video in reverse as a joke. When i realized it wasn't a joke and actually happened, i was confronted by how utterly insane this achievement is.

[PeanutIsFunky]

Catching rocket boosters sounded like a fever dream back in the days, now it's a real thing

[Billboi]

I love how passionate you sounded at the end there
“On its FIRST. ATTEMPT.”
This is so awesome

[dylanV]

This is so cool, I'm flabbergasted that I'm alive to witness this rn🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌

[roccofrisone]

The fact that the booster was moving faster than a bullet at one point makes this even more mind boggling

[FernandoMoreira]

This is a HUGE engineering achievement. Such ambitious plans are reminiscent of the 50s and 60s space race that made people excited about the future and proud of human ingenuity. Love Choe's videos. We need more channels like this ❤

[paulpaz]

Her excitement is contagious. I can geek out on anything space related.

[stevedone]

That is badass. I worked in aerospace for 43 years and this seems impossible to me.

[johkonut]

When we realize that we are, in fact, the aliens

[DownBadSad]

Heard someone say that the IFT-5 booster landing is equivalent to landing a 22 story tall building full of explosives from space traveling multiple times the speed of sound on a dime and thought that really put it into perspective :)

[julz_swag]

Saw this live. And I saw Europa Clipper launch in person. Absolutely insane (but amazing) 48 hours.

[maryjones]

It was unreal to see it in person!!!! Love how excited she is.

[AspenFrostt]

my brain just realized the forces and mass at play here. THESE THINGS ARE MASSIVE THIS IS SO COOL.