Google CEO Sundar Pichai congratulated Elon Musk in a post on Twitter as Starship achieved a record-breaking feat, marking a huge leap in the SpaceX CEO’s mission to Mars. “Many congratulations, have to admit, re-watched the video several times, incredible to watch!” Pichai wrote in the post. He wrote this in response to a video Musk shared on X with the caption, “The tower has caught the rocket!!”

In the post, Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind and recent winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, also congratulated Musk. “Awesome!! Many congratulations!”: he wrote.

With Starship’s latest achievement, Elon Musk’s vision of making humanity a multi-planetary species has taken a huge step forward. During its fifth test flight, the lower half of the SpaceX vehicle, known as the Super Heavy booster, successfully returned to its launch pad and was grabbed in mid-air by a pair of giant mechanical arms, which a It was a world-first achievement. The remarkable catch marks a key moment in SpaceX’s quest to develop a fully reusable and rapidly deployable spacecraft, bringing Musk’s dream of conquering Mars closer to reality.

The successful capture of the Super Heavy booster is a significant leap toward developing a rocket that can be reused multiple times. In the lead up to launch, SpaceX engineers acknowledged that the chances of a clean catch on the first attempt were slim, holding out hope that the booster could land in the Gulf of Mexico.

The accomplishment underscores the progress SpaceX has made since its early, less successful Starship efforts. Only eighteen months earlier, the Starship vehicle suffered a dramatic setback during its maiden voyage, where it broke up shortly after launch. But the recent successful landing – which resulted in a precision capture using mechanical arms called “chopsticks” – demonstrates the engineering progress SpaceX has made, demonstrating its ability to innovate rapidly.

The implications of this success are profound for SpaceX’s broader ambitions. By mastering the ability to capture and reuse Super Heavy boosters, SpaceX is closer to realizing a truly reusable launch system, which is key to making space travel more affordable and sustainable. This reusability is a cornerstone of Musk’s plans, as it significantly reduces the cost of space missions, making multiple trips to Mars and beyond more feasible.

Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, has been designed with the ambitious goal of taking humans to the solar system. It is approximately 400 feet high and has unparalleled strength, capable of carrying large payloads into space. The main body of the spacecraft – also known as Starship – successfully reached orbit during the latest test before splashing down in the Indian Ocean.

The successful capture and landing brings SpaceX one step closer to fulfilling its dream of a Mars mission. With each milestone, Musk’s vision of creating a permanent human presence on other planets moves from science fiction to a concrete goal, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space exploration. The latest achievement solidifies Starship’s role as a key vehicle in the quest to explore Mars and eventually settle there.