The success is a giant leap toward the company's goal to take humans and cargo all the way to Mars on the world's biggest and most powerful launch vehicle

The 233-foot-long booster was caught by giant "chop-stick" arms during landing. This technical breakthrough on a rocket eventually headed to Mars demonstrated that it can be used over and over, like a jetliner.

The Super Heavy booster lifted off from Texas on Sunday and propelled the Starship craft into space. The booster then returned to the pad where it had launched.