SpaceX Starship Booster Catch Aborted: Ship Catch Time & Next Steps
Starship Flight 15 lifted off Friday, but its booster failed a safety check and diverted offshore, leaving Saturday's ship catch as the remaining test.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Mobilus In Mobili
Starbase, Texas, Friday, November 13, 2026, 4:47 p.m. CST — SpaceX's Starship lifted off from its Starbase launch site in Texas on Friday evening, beginning the first attempt to catch both stages of an orbital rocket at the launch tower. The 407-foot vehicle cleared the pad two minutes into its window, and the stages separated successfully, with all six upper-stage engines firing normally, SpaceX said. Minutes later, the booster failed a safety check during its return, and SpaceX diverted it to an offshore landing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Flight 15 is the 15th full-stack Starship launch since April 2023 and the second operational mission carrying Starlink satellites. Ship 42 is to deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites at about 275 kilometres, then stay in orbit for about 22 and a half hours before attempting the first upper-stage catch on Saturday afternoon.
Key Takeaways
- Starship Flight 15 lifted off from Starbase, Texas, at 4:47 p.m. CST on Friday, November 13.
- Booster 22's tower catch was aborted after a safety-check issue; it diverted to an offshore landing in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Ship 42 will deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, then attempt a tower catch on Saturday.
- The Federal Aviation Administration issued the launch licence on Friday, covering the return of both stages.
Why Was the Starship Booster Catch Aborted on Flight 15
Booster 22 was due back at the launch pad about six and a half minutes after liftoff for a catch by the tower's mechanical arms, known as chopsticks. Instead, the booster failed a safety check during its return, and SpaceX diverted it to an offshore landing in the Gulf of Mexico. The landing appeared successful, and SpaceX said it would investigate the issue. It would have been the first Block 3 catch and the first since March 2025; SpaceX has caught a Super Heavy booster three times.
With the booster diverted offshore, the pad is clear for the ship's return. Ship 42 is due to leave orbit, re-enter the atmosphere and attempt the tower catch at about 21:17 UTC on Saturday, November 14 — 3:17 p.m. CST and 2:47 a.m. IST on Sunday, November 15. The ship will only attempt the catch if flight controllers confirm its re-entry, landing-burn and tower-approach systems are healthy, SpaceX said. The launch went ahead despite a nationwide FAA ground stop after a communications failure.
How Many Starlink Satellites Does Starship Flight 15 Carry
Flight 15 carries 26 Starlink V3 satellites, the same number flown on Flight 14 in September. Three carry cameras to inspect the ship's heat shield, and deployment is due to begin about 35 minutes after liftoff.
Can Starship Flight 15 Still Succeed After the Booster Catch Failed
The booster catch was already called off after the safety-check issue. If the ship catch is called off, the ship can end its flight early near Hawaii or Chile. The ship begins on a passively safe suborbital path and only enters orbit if judged healthy enough, SpaceX said.
Elon Musk estimated in September that the first ship catch had a probability of success of “at least 50 or 60 percent”.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Starship Block 3 |
| Liftoff | 4:47 p.m. CST, Friday, November 13 |
| Payload | 26 Starlink V3 satellites |
| Orbit | 275 km, 14 orbits |
| Booster catch | Aborted; offshore landing in the Gulf |
| Ship catch | 21:17 UTC, Saturday, November 14 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did SpaceX Starship Flight 15 launch?
Flight 15 lifted off at 4:47 p.m. CST on Friday, November 13, two minutes into its 75-minute launch window.
Has SpaceX ever caught a Starship upper stage before?
No. SpaceX has caught the Super Heavy booster three times, most recently in March 2025, but no Starship upper stage has ever been caught. Saturday's ship attempt is the next first.
How long will Starship Flight 15 last?
About 22 and a half hours, with the tower catch due at about 21:17 UTC on Saturday, November 14.
Did the FAA approve Starship Flight 15?
Yes. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the launch licence on Friday, November 13, covering the return of both stages to Starbase.
The next milestone is the deployment of the 26 Starlink satellites, followed by the ship's return to Starbase on Saturday afternoon. SpaceX said it would investigate the booster issue after the offshore landing.
