As the Super Heavy booster re-entered the atmosphere, it ignited three of its Raptor engines to decelerate, thus aligning itself for a landing at the launchpad. This recovery process involved the use of the “Mechazilla,” large mechanical arms on the pad gantry that have been designed to catch the descending booster and hold it securely at the launch pad. This is a big step – it marks the first time SpaceX has executed such a maneuver and achieved success, and if this success continues, then it will massively increase the reusability of rocket components. It also allows rockets to return directly to the launch site instead of landing on distant platforms or in the ocean, and cuts down on the time required to refurbish and prepare the rockets for future launches.