SpaceX catches Starship upper stage from orbit with launch tower arms for first time
SpaceX achieved a major aerospace milestone by using mechanical launch tower arms to catch the Starship upper stage from orbit for the first time.
SpaceX successfully caught the upper stage of its Starship spacecraft from orbit using giant mechanical launch tower arms for the first time on Saturday afternoon, November 14, 2026, marking a major engineering milestone for fully reusable rocketry. The stainless steel, bullet-shaped spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere, slowed to a hover, and slid between the mechanical chopstick arms at the launch tower in South Texas as reported by Yahoo Tech. The successful midair capture followed a nearly 22-hour flight that began with Friday's liftoff according to Teslarati coverage.
The mission originally aimed for an unprecedented double-catch, seeking to recover both the lower-stage booster and the upper-stage ship at the launch site noted Teslarati. However, that objective fell short when the first-stage Super Heavy booster encountered a guidance, navigation, and control issue during its descent reported Gizmodo. SpaceX's Dan Huot explained that the booster aborted its planned return and diverted to a controlled self-destruction over the Gulf of Mexico stated Yahoo Tech. Elon Musk later attributed the booster loss to slightly underperforming Raptor engines that left the vehicle short on propellant according to Teslarati. SpaceX's Kate Tice added that the booster's engines stopped firing too soon on the way back down, prompting the guidance system to automatically initiate the watery detour reported by the Associated Press via Yahoo Tech.
Media additions
While the booster missed the tower, the upper-stage spacecraft soared into low Earth orbit and successfully deployed 26 advanced Starlink satellites noted Yahoo Tech. Three of the deployed satellites carried onboard cameras to inspect the vehicle's heat shield tiles reported Teslarati. Ground teams and satellite imagery confirmed the thermal protection system was in good condition, allowing flight controllers to bypass a backup Pacific Ocean splashdown option and proceed with the orbital return stated Teslarati. The spacecraft completed roughly 14 orbits before executing its deorbit burn and plunging through the atmosphere reported The New York Times.
Aerospace experts weighed in on the operational advantages of tower captures over traditional landing methods. Joseph Gonzalez, an aerospace engineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, pointed out that landing rockets on legs adds dead weight and requires extra fuel, while parachute systems delay recovery times reported The New York Times. Conversely, Alistair John, aerospace engineering program director at the University of Sheffield, warned of the immense structural risks involved, noting that a catastrophic failure could compromise the entire launch tower stated The New York Times.
NASA leadership welcomed the achievement. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted via X that the feat felt almost magic
and brought the agency one step closer
to lunar exploration reported Yahoo Tech. The space agency relies on Starship as a crewed lunar lander for upcoming Artemis missions noted Yahoo Tech.
| Mission Phase / Milestone | Previous Status (Prior Flights) | Flight 15 Status |
|---|---|---|
| Booster Catch Recovery | Successfully executed three previous times | Aborted due to GNC issue; destroyed over Gulf of Mexico Yahoo Tech |
| Upper Stage Orbital Duration | Completed 1 to 2 laps | Completed roughly 14 orbits (approx. 22.5 hours) Yahoo Tech, Teslarati |
| Upper Stage Tower Capture | Never attempted or achieved | Successfully caught by launch tower chopstick arms Teslarati, New York Times |
What to Watch Next
- SpaceX anticipates launching future Starship flights from Kennedy Space Center in Florida within the coming months reported Yahoo Tech.
- Engineers will inspect the recovered upper stage to evaluate heat shield and engine degradation following atmospheric re-entry noted The New York Times.
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