(NewsNation) — SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket into orbit for its latest test flight on Sunday morning, but did so with a historic twist.
The rocket, which stands almost 400 feet tall, launched and then successfully caught its returning booster at the launch pad with mechanical arms that are called “chopsticks” which caught the booster in mid-arm to keep from damaging it. The feat, which is considered an engineering marvel by many aerospace experts, was lauded by SpaceX founder Elon Musk on social media.
Former astronaut Jose Hernandez told NewsNation that the main booster provides the thrust of the power to the rocket.
“You go from zero to 17,500 mph in about 8 ½ minutes,” Hernandez said. “It’s the best ride Disney can ever hope for.”
SpaceX’s Starship is the largest rocket ever built and weighs more than 10 million pounds. The spacecraft, which is produced by Musk’s SpaceX company, is sustainable and will be completely reusable, Hernandez said. The reusable aspect of the rocket will significantly reduce the price of future missions, the former astronaut said.
SpaceX is hoping to use Starship to eventually transport humans to the Moon and Mars.
In addition to the historic nature of the booster being caught by the mechanical arms, Hernandez said other aspects of Sunday’s test flight are important.
“You’re going to be landing the whole rocket in two separate pieces,” Hernandez told NewsNation. “The upper stage is going to land softly in the Indian Ocean and the primary booster is going to come back and land in a launch pad that has this chopstick, scissor-like contraption that sort of hugs it as it comes down and safely lands it so it can be re-used.”