World·SpaceX
Starship stays in orbit after Friday's launch from Starbase, Texas; SpaceX could try the first-ever ship catch around 3:15 p.m. CT today
After Friday's Flight 15 launch from Starbase, Texas, the Super Heavy booster was diverted into the Gulf of Mexico instead of being caught at the tower and exploded on impact, but the Starship upper stage reached orbit and deployed all 26 Starlink V3 satellites, Ars Technica and the New York Post reported. If the ship passes a series of health checks, it would return to Starbase for the first attempt ever to catch a Starship upper stage at about 3:15 p.m. local time Saturday; otherwise SpaceX can bring it down in the ocean, Ars Technica said. SpaceX gave no explanation for the booster problem.
Sources
- Ars TechnicaStarship flight 15 powers to orbit—setting up a possible catch on Saturday
- New York PostSpaceX's Starship soars into orbit — after booster explodes in Gulf of Mexico