---
title: "SpaceX Flexes Giant Starship-Catching “Chopsticks” for the First Time"
description: "SpaceX has flexed the \"Chopsticks\" arm of its massive Starship-catching tower for the first time earlier this morning at the company's Texas facilities."
date: "2021-10-28"
modified: "2021-10-28"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-flexes-giant-starship-catching-chopsticks-for-the-first-time"
categories:
  - "Space"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "Starship"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "Starship"
  - "the digest"
---

# SpaceX Flexes Giant Starship-Catching “Chopsticks” for the First Time

![SpaceX has flexed the "Chopsticks" arm of its massive Starship-catching tower for the first time earlier this morning at the company's Texas facilities.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/spacex-flexes-giant-starship-catching-chopsticks-for-the-first-time-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Erc X/Twitter\</em\>*

## SpaceFlex

SpaceX has flexed the "Chopsticks" arm of its massive Starship-catching tower for the first time this morning at the company's testing facilities in South Texas, as spotted during a live [*NASASpaceflight* stream](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJRzQsLZGg&feature=youtu.be>).

The "Mechazilla" tower, as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk [likes to call it](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1426199109585756163?lang=en>), is meant to ensure that the space company's heavy lift rocket called Starship and its accompanying Super Heavy booster make a soft landing.

In August, Musk revealed that "SpaceX will try to catch largest ever flying object with robot chopsticks" in [a tweet](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1432270085415124995>) — a truly wild concept that could quickly [turn into a disaster](<https://futurism.com/spacex-starship-prototype-lands-explodes-minutes-later.md>) unless everything goes perfectly to plan.

https://twitter.com/KSpaceAcademy/status/1453720363313991682

## Chopstick Catch

An animation — which was [deemed "pretty close"](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1426192793035186182>) by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — [posted to Twitter](<https://twitter.com/ErcXspace/status/1426188761461841932>) in August by **a** SpaceX fan approximates the daring maneuver.

SpaceX has been [tirelessly constructing](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-giant-robot-chopsticks.md>) the massive 440-foot robotic tower over the last couple of months.

The first orbital-class Starship prototype dubbed Starship 20 [successfully completed](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0-QttXZ38>) a static fire test last week, indicating that the company could soon attempt to catch its first Super Heavy and Starship using the tower.

When the first orbital test launch will occur is still uncertain, though, given an ongoing Federal Aviation Administration investigation.

But if Musk has his druthers, the test would occur [as soon as next month](<https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1451552104422727681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1451581465645494279%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universetoday.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D153109action%3Dedit>), "pending regulatory approval," he added.

**More on Starship:** [*SpaceX Shares Spicy Video of Its Mars Rocket Being Tested*](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-fly-starship-sn15-again.md>)

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)

## More

- [SpaceX Tests Giant “Chopsticks” For Catching Starship as It Lands](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-tests-chopsticks-starship-tower.md>)
- [Elon Musk Says SpaceX Will Catch Starship Booster With Giant “Robot Chopsticks”](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-giant-robot-chopsticks.md>)
- [SpaceX Grabs Starship With Giant Robot Arms](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-grabs-starship-robot-arms.md>)
- [SpaceX Just Caught Its Starship Booster With Giant “Chopsticks” Arms](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-caught-starship-booster-chopsticks-tower.md>)
- [SpaceX Finally Installs “Robot Chopsticks” to Catch Super Heavy Booster](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-installs-robot-chopsticks.md>)
- [Dramatic Footage Shows SpaceX Starship Exploding After Crashing Into the Ocean](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-test-flight-starship-explosion-ocean.md>)
- [SpaceX Makes Progress on “Launch Tower” Meant to Catch Starship Booster](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-launch-tower-catch-starship-booster.md>)
- [SpaceX Finally Lifts Super Heavy Booster Using Giant Robot Arms](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-lifts-booster-robot-arms.md>)