Starship reaches orbit as booster catch is scrubbed

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 15 reached orbit on November 13, but its Super Heavy booster did not attempt the planned catch at the Starbase launch tower and instead splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. The booster recovery objective was abandoned during descent; Ship 42’s planned return and possible tower catch remained pending in reports published after launch.

The mission lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas during the afternoon of November 13. It was the 15th flight test of the Starship vehicle, which consists of the Super Heavy first-stage booster and the Ship upper stage. The flight had been planned to test recovery of both stages, an objective that would go beyond the booster catches demonstrated on three earlier test flights.

SpaceX diverted the booster from its planned return to the launch tower and directed it toward an offshore splashdown. One report attributed the decision to safety concerns, while other coverage said the company had not provided a definitive explanation. The accounts establish that the catch was scrubbed but do not resolve the reason. The booster’s descent and splashdown followed the launch by minutes.

After reaching orbit, Ship 42 began...