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SpaceX caught Starship’s upper stage after its 15th test flight, but the booster failed to return.
Starship completed a flight from Texas that lasted about 22 hours and returned to the launch tower, where mechanical arms caught it for the first time. The Super Heavy booster’s planned catch was aborted, and the booster was diverted toward the Gulf of Mexico and destroyed.
What the reports agree on
- Mechanical arms caught Starship’s upper stage at the Texas launch site, marking the first time SpaceX caught a Starship returning from orbit. PBS NewsHour, BBC World, CBS News, Guardian World and 2 more
- The flight lasted about 22 hours. PBS NewsHour, CBS News, Guardian World
- The booster did not return for the planned catch and was diverted toward the Gulf of Mexico. France24, PBS NewsHour, BBC World, CBS News and 3 more
- Starship deployed 26 Starlink satellites during the flight. France24, Al Jazeera, ABC News
Where reports differ
- One summary says the flight launched on November 14, 2026; another says it launched on November 13. France24
- One summary says the booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico; another says it self-destructed before hitting the water. France24
Reported by one outlet
- CBS News reported that the rocket stands 407 feet tall and produces about 16 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. CBS News
The original reports
- Al Jazeera SpaceX’s Starship captured by launchpad arms in dramatic first
- CBS News SpaceX pulls off first Starship recovery from orbit in spectacular fashion
- Guardian World SpaceX’s Starship returns to launch pad from orbit in victory for company
- ABC News SpaceX’s Starship returns from orbit, caught by launch pad arms in dramatic first
- BBC World 'Can you believe it?': SpaceX catches part of its Starship rocket on return to Earth
- PBS NewsHour SpaceX's Starship returns from orbit and is captured by launch pad arms in a dramatic first
- France24 SpaceX's Starship set for return to Earth after failed booster catch
- France24 SpaceX's Starship encounters problems during 15th test flight