Catching Rockets: Inside SpaceX’s Game-Changing 'Mechazilla' Technology
SpaceX recently achieved a groundbreaking feat with its "Mechazilla" catching arm system, capturing a returning Super Heavy rocket booster for the first time. This impressive system, located on the launch tower at SpaceX’s Texas-based Starbase, involves two large mechanical arms—often referred to as “chopsticks”—that catch the booster mid-air as it descends. This October 2024 milestone marks a major advancement in SpaceX's push toward reusability, as it aims to streamline rocket recovery for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. During the test, the Super Heavy booster launched Starship, which soared into space before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and landing in the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the booster returned to the launch site, where the chopstick arms intercepted it, securing it high above the ground. This unique recovery method allows SpaceX to forgo landing the booster on a pad or platform, offering a quicker and potentially more cost-effective option...