SpaceX achieves first Starship spacecraft capture by mechanical arms in Texas

SpaceX successfully achieved the first capture of the Starship spacecraft by mechanical arms at the Starbase facility in Texas on November 15, 2026. The spacecraft was caught by two large mechanical arms on the launch tower at 15:20 local time. This milestone represents the first time the spacecraft has been captured at the launch site during its 15th mission.

Mission flight details and achievements

The Starship spacecraft, identified as Ship 42, completed 14 orbits around the Earth during the mission. The spacecraft reached an altitude of approximately 260 km during its orbit and maintained a flight duration in orbit of over 22 hours. During the mission, the spacecraft successfully deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites into orbit. This mission also marked the second time the Starship spacecraft reached orbit.

The flight path of the spacecraft passed over parts of Mexico and Texas. For approximately 21 minutes, the flight path remained almost exclusively over the desert to avoid populated cities. During the reentry phase, the spacecraft traveled at speeds of approximately 27,000 km/h. The second stage of the rocket measures approximately 50 meters in length, while the total length of the entire rocket is 124 meters.

Booster performance and landing outcomes

While the Starship spacecraft successfully returned to the Starbase facility, the Super Heavy booster did not return to the launch pad. The engines of the Super Heavy booster shut off prematurely during its return, which caused the guidance system to direct the booster into the Gulf of Mexico. This outcome differed from the successful capture of the first stage of SpaceX rockets, which the company has achieved three times to date.

The Starship program has conducted 15 full-scale flights since the program began conducting full-scale flights in 2023. This program aims to utilize the Starship system for satellite deployment, Moon missions through the NASA Artemis program, and eventually piloted flights to Mars. Unlike the Falcon 9, which only features a reusable first stage, the Starship system is designed for full reusability.

Technological context and development

SpaceX has achieved significant operational milestones with its previous launch systems, such as the Falcon 9, which began operations in 2010 and has completed 700 launches. The company has expressed satisfaction with the recent mission, with SpaceX stating, "Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on this incredible achievement!" and "Mechazilla catches Starship!"

The Starship spacecraft relies on complex thermal protection systems. While the spacecraft is designed for full reusability, reports indicate that the black hexagonal tile heat shield is not yet fully reusable, and SpaceX is currently developing new types of heat shielding for the vehicle.

Glossary

• Starship — Starship is a large-scale rocket project by the American aerospace company SpaceX. The system consists of the Super Heavy booster and an upper stage that serves as a spacecraft.
• Starbase — Starbase is a major facility of the aerospace company SpaceX used for the development, manufacturing, and testing of its rockets. It serves as the primary launch and recovery facility for the Starship launch vehicle.
• Super Heavy booster — The Super Heavy booster is the first stage of the Starship rocket. It is a component of the Starship launch system.
• Starlink V3 — Starlink V3 refers to a series of satellites. These satellites are deployed into orbit by the Starship spacecraft.