SpaceX launches Starship on ambitious 22-hour Flight 15 test, but aborts booster ‘chopsticks’ catch (video)
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
SpaceX lifted off on its 15th Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas, at 5:47 p.m. ET on Nov. 13, propelling the Super Heavy booster and Ship upper stage with 18 million pounds of thrust from 33 Raptor 3 engines. After a nominal ascent, the booster performed main‑engine cutoff and the Ship hot‑staged, separating 2.5 minutes after launch. Super Heavy reoriented for a planned tower “chopstick” catch but instead executed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico six and a half minutes after liftoff; the reason was not disclosed. Ship continued to low‑Earth orbit, completing a second‑stage burn and parking at roughly 170 miles altitude after 26 minutes. It deployed 26 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites, adding a terabit of capacity, and will remain in orbit for about 22 hours, circling Earth 14 times before a potential return to Starbase. Engineers will assess the vehicle’s health before deciding on a landing.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Demonstrating a reliable booster recovery—or deciding against it—directly tests SpaceX’s claim of fully reusable, rapid‑turnaround launch systems, a prerequisite for scaling its Starlink constellation and future deep‑space missions.
