SpaceX Starship Flight 15: Booster Lands in Sea While Ship Continues
SpaceX's giant Starship rocket lifted off from Texas on Friday afternoon on its 15th test flight. The planned catch of both rocket parts at the tower was disrupted when the booster splashed down in the sea.
The Starship megarocket, built by US aerospace company SpaceX, blasted off from Texas on Friday afternoon, 13 November. It was the 15th test flight. The company was attempting a historic first: catching both parts of its reusable rocket after launch. The first stage did not go to plan.
How the flight was designed
Starship has two elements. The lower booster has 33 Raptor engines, which fired at takeoff. The Starship spacecraft sits on top.
SpaceX had planned for both parts to return to the tower at its Starbase launch site in south Texas. However, the booster, named Super Heavy, was aborted and splashed down in the sea. The cause of that diversion is still unknown.
What happens next
The Starship itself kept sailing through space. It is expected to orbit the Earth about 14 times over roughly 22 hours. The company then plans to catch it at its launchpad at Starbase.
SpaceX has run a flurry of test flights in recent years. Chief executive Elon Musk links them to his vision of taking humans into space.
This report is developing, and the outcome of the rest of the flight is not yet known.
