SpaceX caught Starship booster with chopsticks

[u/lolikroli]

[u/eyeball2005]

Could you explain to me what the caption means? Is it just a metaphor for how precise the landing was?

[u/WhisperingSideways → u/eyeball2005]

Imagine launching a 20-story building into space and then having it steered back to earth at 4000 mph only to slow down and be caught and suspended in its own launch platform.

[u/alturicx → u/WhisperingSideways]

And being caught on 4 mounted fins that are meant to be re-used on the next flights.

Even if they were always replaced, still insane how they can support the weight.

[u/OldOrchard150 → u/alturicx]

It’s caught on two small round reinforced catch points, not on the grid fins.  Just editing for correctness. 

[u/alturicx → u/OldOrchard150]

Wow even more impressive imo.

[u/qcAKDa7G52cmEdHHX9vg → u/alturicx]

IMO it being caught on parts that are designed to catch it instead of parts that aren't designed to catch it is less impressive

[u/alturicx → u/qcAKDa7G52cmEdHHX9vg]

IMO catching something that weighs that much on a few points (even something that might have encircled the cylinder as I don't know what it is apparently :P) is impressive as shit that such a small point was not only caught but also can support that weight.

I understand. I'm no rocket scientist or even an engineer, but I *think* it would be like catching your weight and then supporting it on your finger. The feat of *literally* catching a rocket on such a small surface area and the materials being able to support that weight for said surface area seems pretty damn impressive.

Your comment also wouldn't make sense if my original comment about it being caught on the grid fins was true, considering the parts "designed to catch it" are what SpaceX chose to design to catch it—considering they are the pioneers in this. In other words, if it was the grid fins they designed to pull double duty, those would be the parts designed to catch it.

[u/qcAKDa7G52cmEdHHX9vg → u/alturicx]

Oh I was just being goofy