SpaceX Starship features two different landing methods

Super Heavy Booster Landing
The Super Heavy first stage performs a dramatic return-to-launch-site landing approximately 6-7 minutes after liftoff. After separation, it executes a "boostback burn" with 10 engines to stop forward velocity, then uses grid fins for guidance during descent. Shortly before landing, it ignites 13 inner engines, then throttles down to just 3 engines for the final landing burn. The 70-meter tall, 180-tonne booster is then caught mid-air by mechanical arms ("Mechazilla" or "chopsticks") attached to the launch tower. SpaceX has successfully demonstrated this technique multiple times in 2025.
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Starship Upper Stage Landing
The 52-meter tall Starship upper stage continues on a suborbital trajectory after booster separation. Current test flights target controlled splashdowns in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia approximately 50 minutes after launch. Eventually, SpaceX plans to return Starship to the launch site for catch, similar to Super Heavy. The upper stage contains the payload bay with the nosecone, header tanks, forward flaps, and "PEZ dispenser" deployment system for satellites.

Key Differences
Both stages are designed for full reusability, but Super Heavy has already achieved tower catches while Starship upper stage is still in ocean splashdown testing phases

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