SPACEX / STARSHIP FLIGHT 15
SpaceX catches Starship after its return from orbit for the first time
The Starbase tower caught Ship 42 after it deployed 26 Starlink satellites. An earlier Super Heavy diversion into the Gulf of Mexico ended the bid to recover both stages.
01 / The tower catch
Ship 42 comes home to Starbase
SpaceX caught the upper stage of its Starship rocket at Starbase, Texas, on Saturday, November 14, marking the company’s first recovery of a Starship upper stage from orbit. Flight 15 achieved the milestone a day after losing its Super Heavy booster offshore, which ended the planned double catch. Starship returns from orbit and is caught Flight 15 orbital and recovery updates
Ship 42 completed 14 orbits before heading back to Texas. It fired an engine to leave orbit and slowed for its final approach after re-entry. The tower’s mechanical arms, known as “chopsticks,” closed around the ship as it descended beside the pad. SpaceX’s first Starship tower catch Flight 15 orbital and recovery updates
02 / Liftoff
Starship launches from Texas
SpaceX launched its 15th Starship test flight from Starbase in southern Texas on Friday, November 13. The uncrewed flight paired Super Heavy Booster 22 with the upper stage, Ship 42. After they separated, the booster turned back towards Texas while the ship continued its climb. Sky News launch coverage Flight 15 orbital and recovery updates
SpaceX had planned to catch each stage at the launch tower, starting with Super Heavy minutes after lift-off. Ship 42 was due to return roughly 22½ hours into the flight, after releasing its payload and spending most of the mission in orbit. SpaceX Flight 15 mission profile
03 / Booster diversion
Super Heavy’s offshore diversion ends the double-catch bid
SpaceX called off the tower catch and diverted the first stage into the Gulf of Mexico. Sky News and the Associated Press reported that the booster exploded as it came down offshore. The diversion ended the attempt to recover both stages on the same flight. Sky News launch coverage Booster diversion and explosion
SpaceX’s Kate Tice said during the webcast that early indications pointed to a low-fuel alarm cutting short the burn that was meant to send the booster back towards Starbase. The guidance system detected that the booster was out of position and switched to an offshore return. Tice said SpaceX was still investigating the cause. Flight 15 orbital and recovery updates SpaceX’s first Starship tower catch
04 / Orbit and payload
Ship 42 reaches orbit and deploys 26 Starlink satellites
Ship 42 reached low Earth orbit and deployed all 26 Starlink V3 satellites, according to Space.com’s coverage of the mission webcast. It then began an extended coast, giving controllers time to monitor the spacecraft before the planned return. Flight 15 orbital and recovery updates
05 / Why it matters
Why SpaceX wants to recover both stages
SpaceX had already caught Super Heavy boosters on earlier tests. Recovering Ship 42 tested a different part of the system: the upper stage has to survive re-entry from orbit before reaching the tower. Returning both stages would let SpaceX inspect and prepare them for another flight. SpaceX Flight 15 mission profile Starship returns from orbit and is caught
The programme also matters to NASA, which is working with SpaceX on a lunar lander based on Starship. NASA’s October update describes plans to test commercial lander operations in low Earth orbit during Artemis III. NASA’s updated Artemis lander plans
