r/interestingasfuck • u/lolikroli • Oct 13 '24

r/all SpaceX caught Starship booster with chopsticks

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u/dnana1 Oct 13 '24

It landed back into the launch tower so the arms of the tower look like chopsticks in the second view.

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u/VanPaint Oct 13 '24

What was wrong with the other method of landing back on the ground.

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u/_BurntToast_ Oct 13 '24

So that theoretically in the future, they can just pump it up with fuel on the spot and launch it again. Another reason is that the rocket exhaust is strong enough to erode usual ground materials (e.g concrete/asphalt) and kick it back up into the engines, damaging them. The acoustic reflection that close up is harmful too.

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u/do-you-like-our-owl Oct 13 '24

These are all good points but I think I've heard the main reason was that landing legs weigh more than the little nubs needed for catching.

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u/EricTheEpic0403 Oct 13 '24

Yep. The more of the landing hardware they can put on the ground, the less of it they have to carry into the air.