By — Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/spacexs-starship-soars-into-orbit-after-booster-malfunction-thwarts-double-catch-attempt Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter SpaceX's Starship soars into orbit after booster malfunction thwarts double catch attempt Science Nov 13, 2026 7:20 PM EST SpaceX's attempt to recover its entire Starship back at the launch pad was thwarted when the booster malfunctioned and ended up in the water Friday, but the spacecraft still soared into orbit in its boldest test yet. READ MORE: SpaceX's supersized Starship launches into orbit for the first time but flight ends early Elon Musk's company had to lower its expectations when the first part of the double catch flopped. Instead of returning to its Texas pad following liftoff, the first-stage booster ended up in the Gulf of Mexico after an automatic abort. Despite the setback, the bullet-shaped spacecraft continued toward orbit. It will steer toward the pad Saturday for a similar grab, barring further trouble. The Super Heavy v3 Booster 22 explodes upon being diverted to the water while retuning from…
SpaceX's Starship soars into orbit after booster malfunction thwarts double catch attempt
In short
The 15th test flight sent the spacecraft to an orbital altitude of approximately 170 miles, where it prepared to release 26 advanced Starlink satellites. While an automatic abort forced the Super Heavy booster into the Gulf of Mexico where it exploded, the upper stage remained fully operational. The mission plan dictates that Starship will complete 15 laps around Earth during a 22-hour flight before attempting a pad recovery.
Key points
- NASA continues to invest billions of dollars into Starship development to land astronauts…: NASA continues to invest billions of dollars into Starship development to land astronauts on the moon for the Artemis program.
- SpaceX intends to achieve full rocket reusability to support the rapid launch cadence req…: SpaceX intends to achieve full rocket reusability to support the rapid launch cadence required for future lunar bases and Mars voyages.
- The company plans to phase out its current Falcon rocket fleet and conduct future Starshi…: The company plans to phase out its current Falcon rocket fleet and conduct future Starship launches from Texas, Florida, and Louisiana.