SpaceX Starship booster explodes offshore after tower catch is called off
SpaceX launched its 15th Starship test flight aiming to recover both rocket stages, but operators called off the launch tower catch of the Super Heavy booster, which exploded in a fireball after descending into the water.
SpaceX launched Starship Flight 15 from Starbase in South Texas on November 13, 2026, targeting an ambitious attempt to recover both stages of the 400-foot rocket. The flight was designed to prove full reusability by catching both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage at the launch tower chopsticks.[2][7][8][12][13][15]
The bid for a historic double catch was cut short minutes after liftoff when SpaceX called off the booster recovery. The Financial Times reported that the catch attempt was aborted after the booster failed, and the stage was diverted offshore. According to Fox News, the booster failed to return to the tower and erupted into a massive fireball with airborne debris after descending into the water.[3][4][9][14][17]
Starship itself successfully reached space on a mission scheduled to last roughly 22 hours, carrying a payload of 26 Starlink V3 satellites. Teslarati reported that while a double catch is no longer possible, SpaceX still has an opportunity to catch the Ship upper stage when it completes its planned Earth orbits and attempts a tower return.[5][7][10][11][14][17]
Key facts
- SpaceX launched Starship Flight 15 from Starbase, Texas, on November 13, 2026.
- Flight 15 aimed to land and catch both Starship stages intact at the launch tower for the first time.
- SpaceX aborted the Super Heavy booster catch and diverted the vehicle offshore.
- Fox News reported that the booster descended into the water and erupted in a fiery explosion.
- The Financial Times reported the catch attempt was called off after the booster failed.
- Starship Flight 15 was tasked with deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites during its planned 22-hour mission.
- Teslarati reported that a catch attempt for the Ship upper stage remained possible the following day.
Sources · 12 sources
- BL
Bloomberg@businessPost on X ·
SpaceX aims to land both sections of Starship on Earth intact during its latest mission, a pivotal test of the reusable rocket technology central to Elon Musk’s AI and space exploration ambitions https://t.co/sFKF7B9ATr
Open source - FN
Fox News@FoxNewsPost on X ·
WATCH LIVE: SpaceX launches Starship Flight 15 from Starbase, TX https://t.co/APtxAf3Wi7
Open source - FT
Financial Times@FTPost on X ·
SpaceX aborts attempt to catch Starship rocket after booster fails https://t.co/s2YrQvOAA1
Open source - PO
Polymarket@PolymarketPost on X ·
BREAKING: SpaceX calls off the Super Heavy booster catch and diverts the booster offshore.
Open source - SB
Shay Boloor@StockSavvyShayPost on X ·
$SPCX is attempting its first double catch on Starship Flight 15 including the upper stage after 22 hours and 14 orbits around Earth. And if Elon wants orbital AI data centers to work at scale then making the entire rocket reusable is massive. https://t.co/PzRuzfSOwX
Open source - WS
Wall St Engine@wallstenginePost on X ·
SpaceX will attempt to land both sections of Starship on Earth intact for the first time on its 15th test flight It is a pivotal test of the reusable rocket technology central to Elon Musk's space and AI ambitions https://t.co/ndXNLeu8jL
Open source - MN
Mario Nawfal@MarioNawfalPost on X ·
🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: SpaceX just launched Starship Flight 15 and is going for something no rocket company has ever done, catching BOTH stages back at the tower The Super Heavy booster has been caught three times before, but the Ship upper stage has never been caught, and this flight is also deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites along the way. If both land in the chopsticks, SpaceX becomes the first company with a fully reusable orbital rocket, and the cost of getting to space drops off a CLIFF. Source: @SpaceX / Writer: Daniel
Open source - CN
CBS News@CBSNewsPost on X ·
SpaceX is preparing for its 15th Starship launch from South Texas, with spectators gathering just across the street from the 400-foot rocket ahead of Friday’s planned test flight. The test is a key step in SpaceX’s goal of making Starship fully reusable for future missions, including expanding its Starlink network and eventually carrying astronauts to the Moon and Mars, @JasonAllenLive reports.
Open source - SC
South China Morning Post@SCMPNewsPost on X ·
SpaceX’s bid for Starship double catch thwarted, as booster ends up in ocean https://t.co/xZFOnTwN3K
Open source - CN
CBS News@CBSNewsPost on X ·
SpaceX launched its huge Starship rocket on the program's 15th test flight Friday on a 22-hour mission. If successful, the flight will mark a critical step in the development of the world's first fully reusable orbit-class rocket. https://t.co/KKfzkET37T
Open source - SB
Shay Boloor@StockSavvyShayPost on X ·
Starship Flight 15 has officially lifted off beginning $SPCX first attempt to recover both rocket stages back at Starbase. The booster is expected to return within minutes while the upper stage is targeting a return tomorrow after roughly 22 hours. https://t.co/54i3hU06vN
Open source - PO
Polymarket@PolymarketPost on X ·
BREAKING: SpaceX’s Starship lifts off from Texas on a historic test flight that will attempt to catch both stages for the first time. https://t.co/vbNlhw2Mon
Open source - CN
CNBC@CNBCPost on X ·
SpaceX launches Starship in key test flight of massive rocket https://t.co/JJH3KY4JAM
Open source - TE
TESLARATI@TeslaratiPost on X ·
No double catch — but there’s still a chance for a catch of Ship tomorrow! Lower stage splashed down offshore
Open source - PO
Polymarket@PolymarketPost on X ·
BREAKING: SpaceX targeting 5:45 PM ET Starship launch today for a historic double catch — using giant “chopsticks” to grab the booster minutes after liftoff & the spacecraft 22 hrs later when it returns from orbit. https://t.co/9muakMoVHu
Open source - EV
Evan@StockMKTNewzPost on X ·
SpaceX $SPCX just posted this: “Recovering the entire launch vehicle is considered the holy grail of rocketry. On this mission, we will attempt to recover both stages of Starship for the first time” https://t.co/CYililXely
Open source - FN
Fox News@FoxNewsPost on X ·
BREAKING: SpaceX’s massive Starship booster erupts in a fiery explosion after an attempted landing catch is aborted during a test flight at Starbase, Texas. While Starship successfully launched, the booster failed to return for its planned tower catch, instead descending into the water.
Open source