SpaceX completes 15th Starship test flight and recovers upper stage

On November 14, 2026, SpaceX conducted the 15th test flight of its Starship launch system from Starbase in South Texas. The mission successfully placed the spacecraft into low Earth orbit and deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites. Following a 22-hour orbital flight involving 14 rotations, the upper stage of the Starship vehicle returned to the launch site, where it was successfully captured by the mechanical “chopstick” arms of the launch tower, marking a historic achievement for the aerospace company.

While the upper stage recovery was successful, the mission faced a setback regarding the Super Heavy booster. Approximately two and a half minutes into the flight, the booster separated from the Starship, but SpaceX ultimately aborted the planned attempt to recover the booster using the tower's mechanical arms. Instead, the Super Heavy was guided to a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico about 6.5 minutes after liftoff. Reports indicate that a technical issue necessitated the deviation from the initial recovery plan for the booster.