TBNSpace
SpaceX returned its Starship rocket on Saturday—but there's a catch
Publication: Space - Ars Technica
Author: Eric Berger
Source published: 15/11/2026, 00:40:59 UTC
Briefing created: 15/11/2026, 01:09:12 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 15/11/2026, 01:08:24 UTC.
Briefings
SpaceX successfully retrieved its Starship upper stage from the launch tower after a near-miss, marking a significant milestone in reusable rocket development. The rocket flew horizontally for most of its flight before engaging three Raptor engines at the end to perform a vertical recovery maneuver. The retrieval was extremely close, with only two small protrusions on either side of the rocket providing clearance before it was snagged by the tower arms. This event occurred less than a minute after the rocket came into view, highlighting the narrow margins of the landing attempt.
Key points
- Starship upper stage was successfully retrieved from the launch tower after a near-miss landing attempt.
- The rocket flew horizontally for most of its flight before engaging three Raptor engines at the end to perform a vertical recovery maneuver.
Context
This event occurred less than a minute after the Starship upper stage came into view, highlighting the narrow margins of the landing attempt. SpaceX, nearly a quarter of a century after its founding, had just taken a hugely significant step toward developing and optimizing a massive, rapidly reusable rocket. The successful retrieval demonstrates the critical importance of precise landing maneuvers for future missions.
Limitations
Evidence is limited to a single flight event with no additional context about the broader program or historical comparisons. The specific date of the flight is not provided, and the exact time of the retrieval maneuver is not specified. The narrow clearance margins are described qualitatively without precise measurements of the gap between the rocket and the tower arms.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 15/11/2026, 01:09:12 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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