SpaceX makes history as robotic arms catch Starship after orbital flight

SpaceX achieved a major milestone in rocket reusability after its Starship spacecraft was caught by giant robotic arms at its Texas launch facility following a mission lasting more than 22 hours.

The maneuver, carried out at SpaceX's Starbase facility, marked the first time an upper-stage rocket returning from orbit was caught and brought to a safe, upright position by its launch tower.

The launch tower, nicknamed Mechazilla, uses two enormous mechanical arms designed to catch returning rockets rather than allowing them to land on the ground.

The system is part of SpaceX's efforts to develop fully reusable rockets.

"Mechazilla catches Starship!" the company said in a statement, congratulating its team on an "incredible achievement."

The 171-foot-tall (52-meter) spacecraft reached orbit during the mission and deployed Starlink internet satellites before beginning its return journey, according to SpaceX.

Starship then completed its descent and approached the launch tower, where the robotic arms successfully caught the spacecraft.

The achievement came despite an unsuccessful attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster, the rocket's first-stage component.

The booster was instead redirected to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico.