SpaceX returns Starship to launch pad

Detailed summary

The US aerospace firm SpaceX has successfully brought its Starship back to its launch pad as it returned to Earth.

The US aerospace firm SpaceX has successfully brought its Starship back to its launch pad as it returned to Earth.

It was the first successful after-mission return of the spacecraft to its launch pad.

The Starship lifted off from its launch site in Texas on Friday for its 15th uncrewed test flight.

The spaceship settled into the mechanical arms of the launch pad after descending to Earth following the completion of 14 orbits around the planet, about 22 and a half hours after liftoff.

Engineers erupted into loud cheers as the spacecraft slowed itself by firing its engines and moved smoothly onto the pad.

The achievement is seen as a major milestone, as it proves spacecraft can be recovered at their launch pad following missions, and are reusable. This is seen as an important step toward realizing mass transport to space.

Until now, SpaceX had been successful in recovering the lower stage of the rocket at the launch site after launch.

The company intends to use the Starship for the Artemis program of international lunar exploration led by NASA, and for future crewed flights to Mars.

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