(Reuters) -SpaceX on Sunday launched its fifth Starship test flight from Texas and returned the rocket’s towering first stage booster back to land for the first time, achieving a novel recovery method involving large metal arms.
The rocket’s Super Heavy first stage booster lifted off at 7:25 a.m. CT (1225 GMT) from SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas launch facilities, sending the second stage Starship rocket on a path in space bound for the Indian Ocean west of Australia, where it will attempt atmospheric reentry followed by a water landing.
The Super Heavy booster, after separating from the Starship booster some 74 km (46 miles) in altitude, returned to the same area from which it was launched to make its landing attempt, aided by two robotic arms attached to the launch tower.