Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully captures returning launch vehicle with mechanical arms

SpaceX made engineering history on Sunday during a test flight of the giant Starship rocket, using mechanical arms called “chopsticks” to catch the returning booster as it returned to the launch pad.

The nearly 400-foot-long Starship rocket, which is reusable, was launched from the company's Starbase launch site near the village of Boca Chica in South Texas.

As the 233-foot-long Super Heavy carrier separated and fell back to Earth, the carrier's 33 Raptor engines roared to slow its return to the launch site. The booster slowly fell into the metal arms of the tower and hooked itself on the first attempt to use the novel catching method.

“The tower caught the rocket!!” Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, posted on X.

MUSK SAYS SPACEX COULD SEND 5 UNOCCUPY SPACESHIPS TO MARS IN 2 YEARS

The launch pad tower is equipped with mechanical arms that SpaceX's Kate Tice calls “chopsticks,” although fans have also dubbed the feature “Mechazilla.”

SpaceX's Super Heavy booster is caught by mechanical arms as it lands during the fifth SpaceX Starships flight test in Boca Chica, Texas, on Sunday. (REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal / Reuters Photos)

SpaceX commentators described the technical feat during the launch broadcast as magical.

SpaceX's Starship takes off from Boca Chica, Texas, for its fifth flight test on Sunday. (REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal / Reuters Photos)

ELON MUSK SAYS SPACEX WILL SUE FAA FOR “REGULATORY OVERBILLING.”

“Even today, what we just saw is magical,” SpaceX’s Dan Huot said. “I’m shaking right now.”

SpaceX's Starship flies during its fifth flight test in Boca Chica, Texas, on Sunday. (REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal / Reuters Photos)

“Folks, this is a day for the history books in technology,” Tice added.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO by CLICKING HERE

The test flight marks another step toward Musk's vision of sending people and supplies into space, with his ultimate goal of sending crewed missions to Mars.