Starship | Fifth Flight Test

Starship’s fifth flight test lifted off on October 13, 2024, with our most ambitious test objectives yet as we work to demonstrate techniques fundamental to Starship and Super Heavy’s fully and rapidly reusable design.

And on our first try, Mechazilla caught the booster.

Following a successful liftoff, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and coast, the Super Heavy booster performed its landing burn and was caught by the chopstick arms of the launch and catch tower at Starbase. Thousands of distinct vehicle and pad criteria had to be met prior to the catch attempt, and thanks to the tireless work of SpaceX engineers, we succeeded with catch on our first attempt.

Prior to catch, Starship executed another successful hot-staging separation, igniting its six Raptor engines and completing ascent into outer space. It coasted along its planned trajectory to the other side of the planet before executing a controlled reentry, passing through the phases of peak heating and maximum aerodynamic pressure, before executing a flip, landing burn, and splashdown at its target area in the Indian Ocean. The flight test concluded at splashdown 1 hour, 5 minutes and 40 seconds after launch.

[lowstrife]

Thank you for posting on Youtube in 4k with all of the bitrate to make the footage look like it should.

[thedarkside]

Imagine when we first hear: "The Starship has landed on Mars."

[RaptorGTA]

Give a raise for the editor of this video. Just amazing work!

[lanzer]

Can we have just 3 minutes of the SpaceX staffs reactions? I love seeing the joy of those who dedicated their careers to make this happen.

[rikudouray]

I remember way back 2021 I showed my late grandpa how SpaceX keeps nailing the landing of reusable rocket on land. He was so amazed and it was a heartwarming experience for him, it's like a fuel of hope to humanity. He passed away that year due to colon cancer. Miss you so much grandpa!

[effervescentrelief]

Kudos to everyone at SpaceX. From the person sweeping the floor, building the rocket bodies, assembling the engines, writing the code, designing the parts, doing the administrative work, you name it... huge kudos to everyone!!! Amazing work!

[Jordan]

I have lost track of how many times I have watched this. People don't realize yet but this is going in the history books. This is equivalent to the first computer made. This is a new era.

[Space_OdJobs]

I gotta admit: I did not expect the chopsticks recovery to work, let alone on the first try.

My initial assumption was that it would take at least a few crashes and burns before they could master it, but to see a skyscraper being plucked out of the air like that really made my brain stalled. SpaceX is now truly the world leader in technological innovations!

[deepprey]

This is a pivotal moment in history, Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team that made this happen.

[youtube]

Look how young they are!
The kids these days, I tell ya. I'm damn proud of them.

[XriseGama]

That flight was absolutely insane! Come on SpaceX, I'm rooting for you to get us to conquer the stars. Towards Mars!!

[Minecraft-]

We drove all the way from northern Wisconsin to see this launch, we were in Iowa when the launch license got approved and it was a real gamble. We left at 9:40 PM something the night before and got South Padre Island at around 1 AM on launch day. The sound this thing makes does not come across on videos, and that landing has to be the coolest thing I've ever seen.

[fe]

“Operator, Go Vote is set: True. We are go for catch.”

Goosebumps

[DavidGoben]

I cannot count the number of time or the number of angles I have seen it. I love the chance to watch it again. I remember when the first rocket launched into space in 1957. This, to me, is just as significant.

[danielt.]

2:49 That shot looks so much like a Top Budget movie, and its REAL.

[Mr_Battlefield]

I cried watching the live stream of the booster catch. It was the most mind blowing moment in my life. Thank you SpaceX for inspiring a younger generation of space explorers.

[VittsBar]

I Remember when this was only an animation and no One thought they would actually do it

[dschlais]

One for the record books! Congrats SpaceX team!

[JimmyColbourn]

I get chills everytime I watch The Catch. The unbridled joy of the SpaceX employees celebrating this monumental engineering feat is truly a beautiful thing to see as well. Elon and his team of tireless workers are true innovators and visionaries. Congratulations to the SpaceX team. I look forward to the Mars landing.

[burntheatshield]

1:56 ohh, never noticed the shockwaves on the ground until now!