In an extraordinary advancement for space exploration, SpaceX’s Starship successfully completed its fifth test flight, and this time, the company achieved an innovative feat. The Starship booster was captured in midair by a pair of enormous mechanical arms, known as the “chopstick maneuver,” marking a significant achievement in Elon Musk’s mission to push the boundaries of space travel.

SpaceX is striving to eventually transport astronauts to the Moon, and even Mars, and this maneuver is part of refining the technology that could make this possible. In previous test flights, after the booster separated from Starship, it would fall and eventually land using rocket power to guide itself back down. However, this time, SpaceX took a step further by attempting to capture the descending booster in midair—a move never before attempted.

The “chopstick maneuver” involves the use of two massive mechanical arms positioned on the launch tower. After the booster completed its descent, it slowed down and hovered just above the ground, allowing the arms to catch it and gently secure it back onto the platform. If perfected, this method could greatly improve reusability by reducing the wear and tear associated with traditional landings, making space travel more efficient and cost-effective.

In a video released by SpaceX, at the moment the maneuver was successfully executed, the control room erupted in applause and cheers of joy. Engineers and technicians were seen celebrating what BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh described as “absolutely astonishing.”

This successful capture marks another step forward in SpaceX’s ambitious Starship program. Elon Musk has long spoken about his vision of a fully reusable spacecraft capable of making regular trips to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The “chopstick” technique, if incorporated into future launches, could simplify the process, reduce costs, and potentially speed up turnaround times between missions.

SpaceX’s test flights are part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon. Starship has already been selected as the vehicle to land astronauts on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis III mission, scheduled for the mid-2020s.

With the success of this flight, SpaceX continues to demonstrate its ability to innovate, bringing humanity closer to the next giant leap in space exploration.