Landing back on the launch pad...SpaceX test flight successful

[Anchor]
Elon Musk's space company SpaceX has succeeded in landing a rocket back on the launch pad for the first time in the world.

It is the first time that it has returned to the launch pad rather than a separate landing site, and it is expected to significantly reduce the cost and time of rocket reuse.

I'm reporter Kim Do-won.

[Reporter]
This is the fifth test launch of SpaceX's Mars Exploration Rocket Starship.

About 2 minutes and 40 seconds after launch, the first stage propellant 'Super Heavy' is separated at an altitude of 69 kilometers.

The propellant, which was falling to the ground, soon corrected itself and returned exactly to the same launch pad where it had just taken off.

The reverse propulsion engine runs and holds the rocket, which has slowed down, like chopsticks by a robot arm above the launch pad.

[SpaceX official] It's incredible. In its first ever attempt, it successfully caught the propellant 'Super Heavy' from the launch pad.]

SpaceX is already reusing its first-stage propellant, but so far it has returned to a separate landing site, not a launchpad.

If the rocket lands directly on the launch pad, it can significantly reduce reuse time and cost.

The spacecraft Starship, which was launched on a propellant, also fell as scheduled 66 minutes later into the target waters of the Indian Ocean.

The Starship will be used in the U.S. NASA's manned lunar mission Artemis, and will ultimately be used to explore Mars.

Elon Musk, who founded SpaceX, praised humanity for making great strides to live on multiple planets.

I'm Kim Do Won of YTN.

Video editing for
: Lee Ju-yeon
Screen provided by SpaceX