SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket from its Texas base in its boldest test yet, aiming to recover both the Super Heavy booster and the upper stage spacecraft at the launch site. This attempt, designated as Test Flight 15, was designed to prove the vehicle's full reusability, a goal Elon Musk believes will dramatically lower launch costs.
The company fell short of a double catch when the booster malfunctioned during the flight. Due to a guidance, navigation, and control issue, the booster aborted its recovery attempt and exploded over the Gulf of Mexico, eventually ending up in the water.
Despite the booster's failure, the Starship spacecraft continued its journey, orbiting Earth 14 times for over 22 hours. In a dramatic return, the spacecraft lowered itself back to the Texas launchpad, where two metal arms attached to the launch tower successfully secured it.
This event marked the first-ever recovery of a Starship from orbit, representing a major engineering milestone. While SpaceX did not achieve the historic recovery of both stages, the successful capture of the upper stage is a key step in the decades-long pursuit of fully reusable rocket systems that can make frequent launches possible.