SpaceX to attempt first Starship spacecraft recovery on land in 15th flight
- SpaceX launched Starship Flight 15 from Starbase, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, attempting the first-ever dual tower catch of both the Super Heavy booster and upper stage.
- SpaceX's strategy aimed to test rapid reusability by recovering both rocket stages using mechanical 'chopstick' arms, critical for reducing mission costs and accelerating launch rates.
- During ascent, the Super Heavy booster was diverted from its return path and exploded over the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship upper stage successfully reached orbit and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites.
- The booster's failure left the double catch unsuccessful, but the spacecraft remained in its planned 22-hour orbital profile, continuing systems testing for future Artemis moon missions.
- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk views full reusability as essential for sustained human presence on the moon and Mars, making rapid recovery refinement critical to the company's long-term vision.
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470 Articles
A new chapter in history: SpaceX successfully used its giant robotic arm to "capture" the Starship spacecraft in mid-air for the first time, after it had orbited the Earth for 22 hours.
SpaceX Starship snatched from sky by mechanical arms in historic first
SpaceX's Starship has made a historic return to Earth, caught in mid-air by giant mechanical arms in a milestone for reusable rocket technology - though the first-stage booster exploded and fell into the Gulf of Mexico
Elon Musk's SpaceX makes history: Starship returns from space, gets caught by giant Mechazilla arms in Texas
SpaceX's Starship has made history by returning from orbit and being caught by the giant mechanical arms of its launch tower in Texas. The milestone marks a major step towards fully reusable rockets and could reshape the future of space exploration.
‘Holy Grail of spaceflight’: SpaceX pulls off first-ever midair 'catch' of Starship returning from orbit
SpaceX achieved the first catch of a Starship spacecraft, guiding the 171-foot vehicle into the arms of its launch tower after a 22-hour orbital mission. The ship completed 14 laps around Earth and deployed 26 Starlink satellites, while its booster exploded shortly after liftoff.
Spacecraft Historic Chopsticks Catch: SpaceX Arms Grab Starship, Make Reusable Rockets Look Routine With Latest Capture
SpaceX makes history as Mechazilla catches Starship upright after 22 hours in orbit and 14 laps around Earth, completing the first orbital upper-stage return despite losing the Super Heavy booster over the Gulf of Mexico.
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