SpaceX has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in space technology. During a recent test flight of its Starship spacecraft , the company successfully launched and retrieved the rocket’s first-stage booster using a novel method called the ' chopsticks manoeuvre .' The launch tower, equipped with giant mechanical arms, caught the booster in mid-air as it returned to Earth. This is the first time such a feat has been accomplished, marking a significant step toward making rockets fully reusable . SpaceX aims to use these reusable rockets to transport both crew and cargo to the moon and, eventually, to Mars. By mastering this technique, SpaceX is advancing its mission to reduce space travel costs and increase the frequency of space exploration missions. This achievement reflects the company’s broader goal of building a reliable and efficient system for future interplanetary missions.
Vocabulary :
• booster (noun): The first stage of a rocket that helps lift it into space.
• mid-air (noun): A place high in the sky.
• chopsticks (noun): Two thin sticks used to pick up food, here used to describe the mechanical arms of the tower.
• manoeuvre (noun): A movement or series of moves needing skill and care.
• reusable (adj): Something that can be used again.
• crew (noun): A group of people working together, especially in a vehicle like a spaceship.
• cargo (noun): Goods carried on a ship, plane, or space vehicle.
• launch (verb): To send something, like a rocket, into the air or space.
• milestone (noun): An important event or achievement.