How did SpaceX catch a 23-story rocket booster out of the sky?

The answer

On October 13, 2024, SpaceX achieved what many called impossible: catching a Super Heavy booster - the largest and most powerful rocket stage ever flown - using giant mechanical arms nicknamed 'chopsticks' mounted on the launch tower, called Mechazilla. The 232-foot, 275-ton booster descended from space, reignited its engines to slow down, and was gently caught by the arms just above the launch mount. This eliminated the need for landing legs or a separate landing pad, enabling rapid reuse. SpaceX repeated the feat on January 16, 2025, during Flight 7, though the upper Starship stage was lost during that mission. The system is designed to eventually allow rockets to be reflown within hours of landing.