Why Elon Musk’s Megazilla catching SpaceX’s booster was such a leap forward for mankind
SpaceX’s fifth Starship test flight featured a remarkable booster landing, marking a significant step towards the company’s goal of using a fully reusable spacecraft. The booster successfully reignited engines and was caught mid-air by a gantry tower, while the Starship splashed down successfully. This progress suggests SpaceX could soon achieve regular orbital launches, reducing spaceflight costs and expanding its capabilities for missions like NASA’s Artemis programme and Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions. SpaceX’s rapid pace of testing has put it far ahead of competitors, with operational capacity expected in a few years.