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SpaceX successfully completed its fifth test flight of the Starship rocket, achieving a significant milestone in the development of a fully reusable rocket system. The rocket’s Super Heavy booster made a dramatic first catch on the company’s launch tower, showcasing the progress towards SpaceX’s goal. The test flight took place at the Starbase facility near Brownsville, Texas, with the booster returning to land on the launch tower arms seven minutes after launch.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX on the achievement, emphasizing the importance of continued testing for future missions. The Starship system, designed for fully reusable space travel, aims to revolutionize cargo and human transportation beyond Earth. SpaceX’s goal is to conduct hundreds of missions with the Starship before any crewed launches.

The Starship rocket, standing 397 feet tall when fully stacked on the Super Heavy booster, is the tallest and most powerful rocket ever launched. The Super Heavy booster, equipped with 33 Raptor engines, generates 16.7 million pounds of thrust, surpassing NASA’s Space Launch System. Starship itself, with six Raptor engines, operates with liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellants, requiring over 10 million pounds of propellant for launch.

SpaceX’s meticulous preparation and testing for the booster catch demonstrate the company’s commitment to safety and reusability. The catch approach, using chopstick arms on the launch tower, is a critical element in making the Starship rocket fully reusable. The successful completion of milestones in each test flight signifies SpaceX’s continuous improvement and innovation in rocket development.

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