SpaceX achieved a major milestone with its reusable Starship system as a Super Heavy booster rocket successfully returned to earth and was caught by giant robotic arms, known as "chopsticks".
This marks the first attempt to capture the 232-foot booster section of the rocket after it separates from the Starship craft at 46 miles above Earth.
The booster re-ignited three engines to control its descent before being secured at the launch tower in Texas.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk and engineers celebrated the breakthrough, describing it as a day for "engineering history books".
Meanwhile, Starship’s second stage completed its mission, splashing down in the Indian Ocean. Both components are designed to be reusable, supporting future missions to the moon and beyond.
Among the major investors in the company is Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC (LSE:SMT), where SpaceX represents 4.6% of its portfolio.