SpaceX returned its Starship rocket on Saturday—but there's a catch

In an unprecedented event at SpaceX's Starbase in Texas, the company's Starship rocket made its first vertical landing on Saturday, marking a major milestone for the aerospace firm. The black and silver spacecraft descended from the sky, emerging from a cloud deck near the end of its flight. Unlike traditional rocket flights, the Starship flew horizontally for a brief period before igniting its three powerful Raptor engines, causing it to swoop into a vertical position.

The landing was a delicate process, with the upper stage of the rocket relying solely on two small nubs, each extending only about a foot, to secure its position on the awaiting launch tower. Less than a minute after the Starship became visible, it was successfully snatched by the tower, showcasing the incredible precision required for such a maneuver.

This successful landing is a significant step forward for SpaceX, which has been working on developing a reusable rocket capable of rapid re-entry and landing. The achievement comes nearly a quarter of a century after the company's founding, bringing the aerospace industry closer to the goal of affordable and efficient space travel.