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SpaceX Successfully Catches Starship Upper Stage
Publication: Payload
Author: Victoria Woodburn
Source published: 15/11/2026, 01:39:11 UTC
Briefing created: 15/11/2026, 01:52:35 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 15/11/2026, 01:50:25 UTC.
Briefings
SpaceX successfully recovered Starship upper stage Ship 42 from orbit in Starbase, Texas, after it relit a single Raptor engine to exit orbit and landed on the tower. This marks the first time the upper stage has been caught, potentially enabling future full reusability. The mission involved 26 Starlink V3 satellites deployed during the flight, and CEO Elon Musk stated the goal is to immediately land and launch the rocket again. However, Super Heavy Booster 22 failed to make it to the tower, resulting in a single catch rather than a double catch. SpaceX is still investigating the cause of the booster's early abort.
Key points
- SpaceX successfully recovered Starship upper stage Ship 42 from orbit in Starbase, Texas, after it relit a single Raptor engine to exit orbit and landed on the tower.
- Super Heavy Booster 22 failed to make it to the tower, resulting in a single catch rather than a double catch, and SpaceX is still investigating the cause of the early abort.
Context
This finding is significant as it represents the first time the Starship upper stage has been caught, potentially unlocking the next step toward full reusability for the vehicle. The recovery occurred on Saturday, November 15, 2026, at 4:20pm ET, following Flight 15's deployment of 26 Starlink V3 satellites.
Limitations
The evidence is limited to a single successful recovery of Ship 42; the Super Heavy Booster 22 failed to make it to the tower, resulting in a single catch rather than a double catch. SpaceX is still investigating the root cause of the anomaly, and the booster relit only 32 of its 33 Raptors for the boostback burn, which ended early due to low fuel mass.
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