SpaceX launches 15th test flight of Starship

SpaceX launched the 15th test flight of Starship. The attempt to return the booster to the launch tower failed — it fell into the Gulf of Mexico and exploded. The spacecraft reached orbit and deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites. The company plans to catch the spacecraft upon return with mechanical arms for the first time.

Elon Musk's SpaceX launched the 15th test flight of the Starship system from a base in Texas. The attempt to return the booster to the launch tower failed — it fell into the Gulf of Mexico and exploded. Despite this, the spacecraft itself successfully entered orbit around Earth and deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites. Today, the company intends to attempt for the first time to catch the spacecraft upon its return from orbit using mechanical arms on the launch tower.