# SpaceX Starship booster catch

> SpaceX caught its Super Heavy booster on the first tower-catch attempt.

- Owner: SpaceX
- Kind: Moment
- Sector: Technology
- Seed date: 2024-10-13
- Observed peak date: Week of Oct 17, 2024
- Date basis: Observed peak within the documented measurement window; not an all-time maximum. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 39 (Niche), v1.3
- Mechanics: Real-world spectacle, Creator relay, Brand pile-on, Platform jump, Political adoption

## Summary

SpaceX broadcast its first Super Heavy tower catch. Reactions and explainers followed on X and YouTube. The flight article's October seven-day pageview maximum ended October 17; GIFs and political retellings followed.

## Timeline

- 2024-10-12 — Federal Aviation Administration (Press) — The FAA licensed a test flight that would attempt to catch Super Heavy with the launch tower.
- 2024-10-13 — SpaceX (X) — SpaceX broadcast the first Super Heavy tower catch during Starship's fifth flight test.
- 2024-10-13 — NASASpaceflight (@NASASpaceflight) (X) — NASASpaceflight posted catch footage with its live commentary and the caption "OMG!" at 12:33 UTC.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/starship-booster-catch

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “SpaceX Starship booster catch.” Case HIS-01606. Spread Score v1.3: 39/100. Updated 2026-10-23. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01606