SpaceX is currently operating at a pace that was once considered impossible, turning orbital rocket launches into something that feels more like a daily airline schedule. This relentless operational cadence was recently on full display during a doubleheader weekend, when the company successfully launched two Falcon 9 rockets from opposite sides of the country and landed both first-stage boosters at sea.
As the company prepares for the first flight test of Starship V3, it’s the perfect time to look back at the milestones that brought us here. From catching falling boosters to historic private spacewalks, these are the moments that defined a new era of space exploration.
The First Successful Landing
Before SpaceX, the idea of a rocket landing itself vertically on a pad after delivering a payload to space was science fiction. That changed on December 21, 2015, when a Falcon 9 first stage returned to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral. This moment proved that orbital-class rockets could be reused, fundamentally changing the economics of space travel.
Simultaneous Landings
If one landing was incredible, two at the exact same time were legendary. During the maiden flight of the Falcon Heavy in 2018, the world watched in awe as two side boosters touched down in perfect unison at Cape Canaveral. It wasn't just a technical feat; it was a visual masterpiece that showcased the sheer precision of SpaceX’s autonomous landing systems.
Starship: The First High-Altitude Flip
Starship is the world’s most powerful launch vehicle, and its development has been a "test-and-learn" journey. In December 2020, the SN8 prototype soared 12.5 kilometers into the air before performing a wild "belly flop" maneuver to control its descent. While it ended in a "hard landing," seeing a rocket of that size flip itself from horizontal to vertical and back again for the first time was an epic milestone in aerodynamic control.
SN15: The First Starship to Nail the Landing
After several prototypes ended in spectacular fireballs, SN15 finally broke the cycle in May 2021. The vehicle completed its high-altitude flight and successfully landed on the pad without exploding, marking the first time a Starship prototype survived the entire test sequence. This proved that the complex landing flip maneuver was not just a theory but a repeatable reality.
Mechazilla’s Chopsticks: Catching a Giant
Perhaps the most "insane" moment in aerospace history occurred during Starship’s fifth flight test in October 2024. Instead of landing on a pad or a ship, the vehicle’s massive Super Heavy booster returned to the launch site and was caught mid-air by the giant mechanical "chopstick" arms of the launch tower. This "Mechazilla" catch is a central enabler for rapid reusability, allowing SpaceX to launch, return, and launch again at a rate never before seen.
SpaceX is already looking to push the boundaries of Mechazilla even further by attempting its first "catch" of a returning Starship upper stage. This milestone is expected to take place between Flight 13 and Flight 15, depending on the performance of the upcoming Starship V3 flights.
Looking even further ahead, SpaceX is already developing Starship V4, a massive iteration featuring 42 Raptor engines, targeted for a 2027 debut.
Polaris Dawn: The First Private Spacewalk
SpaceX isn't just revolutionizing hardware; it's also advancing human spaceflight for private citizens. In September 2024, the Polaris Dawn mission made history when Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis performed the world’s first commercial spacewalk. Exiting the Crew Dragon hatch high above Earth, they tested new SpaceX-designed EVA suits that the company hopes will one day be worn by people walking on Mars.
The "Pez Dispenser": First Starship Payload Success
Another pivotal moment occurred last year on August 26 during the Starship Flight 10 mission, which featured the first successful "Pez dispenser" test. After reaching its planned suborbital trajectory, the Starship upper stage successfully deployed eight Starlink satellite simulators in a unique, dispenser-like fashion. This was a critical demonstration of the spacecraft's ability to deliver massive payloads to orbit. SpaceX intends to use this capability to supercharge the expansion of its Starlink constellation and begin deploying large amounts of AI compute in space following its recent acquisition of xAI.
Open the pod bay door, HAL
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 26, 2025
Starship deploying @Starlink simulator sats pic.twitter.com/3CSOyulzcJ
After Starship completed the deployment, it successfully performed a landing burn and splashed down in the ocean, captured in this amazing footage below.
Building the Future of Connection
Beyond the launches and advancements in spaceflight, SpaceX is creating a planet-wide internet network. Through its Starlink constellation, the company is now delivering high-speed broadband to homes, businesses, ships, planes, and more. It is even aiming to beam 5G connectivity directly to unmodified cell phones from space, on top of its Starlink Mobile service that currently offers satellite texting and low-speed data to eliminate dead zones globally. To power these ambitions, SpaceX acquired Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, to integrate massive AI capabilities into its orbital satellite network.
SpaceX’s ultimate vision is to make life multiplanetary. Each of these moments — the catches, the landings, and the spacewalks — is a stepping stone toward a future where exploring the stars is a routine part of human existence.
