SpaceX to attempt first Starship spacecraft recovery on land in 15th flight
SpaceX says full recovery would mark a breakthrough in making Starship rapidly reusable and cut launch costs for future moon and Mars missions.
- On Friday, November 13, 2026, SpaceX launched Starship Flight 15 from Starbase, Texas, attempting the first full recovery of an orbital launch system by catching both the Super Heavy booster and upper stage using Mechazilla tower arms.
- SpaceX designed Flight 15 to test full reusability and reduce launch costs, as CEO Elon Musk envisions Starship as the vehicle for future moon bases and Mars colonies.
- The spacecraft successfully reached orbit and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites; however, the Super Heavy booster malfunctioned and fell into the Gulf of Mexico rather than returning for capture.
- SpaceX engineering director Shana Diez stated, "The goal is always to take the risk in the place where you can learn the most," highlighting how the company manages complex reentry and catch challenges.
- NASA depends on Starship to support the Artemis III lunar mission, with docking tests planned for next summer and moon landings targeted as early as 2028, positioning the program as critical to lunar exploration.
424 Articles
424 Articles
SpaceX’s fifteenth test flight of the Starship rocket was partially successful on Friday. The spacecraft reached an orbit around the Earth, but the lower stage landed in the sea and caught fire. The Super Heavy booster was supposed to be recovered by the launch tower for the first time.
After a few minutes of flight, the lower deck of the rocket, the propellant named Super Heavy, encountered a technical problem. SpaceX decided to let this first floor fall and concentrate
During the 15th test flight of the Starship space system, SpaceX failed to capture the Super Heavy accelerator. The launch was made from the Star Base Space Launch Center in South Texas. The company expected to return both stages to base for the first time, but from the original
The Starship rocket from SpaceX encountered an accelerator malfunction a few minutes after launch.
SpaceX had huge plans for the launch of Starship 15 this weekend. The space company was set to pluck the largest spaceship ever built out of the sky a day after launch, for the first time in history. It remains uncertain whether that will succeed following problems during the launch.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
