SpaceX launched Starship’s 15th test flight from its South Texas site
SpaceX launched Starship’s 15th test flight from its South Texas site on Friday, but diverted the Super Heavy booster to a Gulf of Mexico splashdown rather than attempting its planned catch at the launch tower. The flight was the company’s first attempt to recover both the booster and upper-stage spacecraft at the site.
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CBS News reported that an unspecified problem prevented the booster’s return to the launch pad; it splashed down off the Texas Gulf Coast and burst into flames.
NBC News said the flight was the second Starship mission to carry operational Starlink satellites to orbit. CBS News reported that SpaceX still planned to attempt a launch-pad catch of the upper stage on Saturday, at the end of the mission.
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Reporting behind this story
- NBC News — SpaceX launches 15th Starship flight; aborts booster recovery maneuver
- CBS News — SpaceX launches milestone Starship flight to demonstrate full reusability of orbit-class rocket
- CNBC — SpaceX launches Starship in key test flight of massive rocket
- interestingengineering.com — SpaceX skips Starship booster catch for Gulf of Mexico splashdown