SpaceX Starship Flight 15 Update: Booster Misses Catch, Ship’s Return Set for Nov. 14

Update checked: November 14, 2026, at 1:03 a.m. UTC. SpaceX’s Starship Flight 15 launched from Starbase, Texas, on Friday, November 13. The Super Heavy booster did not return to the launch tower as planned and instead splashed down offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The Ship upper stage continued to orbit, deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, and is expected to attempt its first return and tower catch on Saturday.

That makes the mission a mixed result so far: the orbital flight and satellite deployment mark progress, while the booster’s missed catch leaves the planned recovery of both stages unfinished. SpaceX has not confirmed that the Ship will be caught; its return and recovery remain contingent on the spacecraft and mission conditions.

Destaques

• Flight 15 launched from Starbase on November 13; the Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf instead of returning to the tower.
• The Ship stage reached orbit and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, according to Associated Press reporting.
• The FAA advisory lists a Flight 15 reentry window for November 14, 20:56–00:14 UTC, crossing into November 15 UTC.
• SpaceX’s first Ship tower-catch attempt is a planned objective, not a confirmed outcome.

What happened on Starship Flight 15?

Flight 15 was designed to test orbital operations and a more ambitious recovery profile. The booster’s planned return did not succeed: it was diverted from the launch site and splashed down offshore. The specific cause had not been publicly explained in the reporting available at the time of this update. Avoid treating the splashdown as a successful tower catch or assuming a cause before SpaceX releases its findings.

The Ship continued after stage separation, reached orbit, and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The orbital insertion and deployment build on Flight 14, which SpaceX described as Starship’s first orbital flight and first delivery of meaningful payload to orbit. Flight 15’s planned Ship return is a new step: an attempt to bring the upper stage back to Starbase for capture by the launch tower’s mechanical arms.

When is Starship’s Ship stage expected to return?

The FAA’s current operations advisory lists the Flight 15 reentry window as November 14 from 20:56 UTC through 00:14 UTC on November 15. At Starbase, Texas, Central Standard Time is UTC−06:00 on those dates, so that window corresponds to 2:56 p.m. Saturday through 6:14 p.m. Saturday CST. The advisory describes a window for planned reentry operations; it does not guarantee a precise catch time or that the catch will be attempted.

The earlier launch target was Friday, November 13, at 4:45 p.m. Central Standard Time (22:45 UTC), according to the FAA advisory. The launch has now taken place, so readers should follow SpaceX’s live channels for any updated timing, hold, or change to the return plan.

What are the remaining Flight 15 goals?

The mission’s key remaining test is whether the Ship can complete its orbital coast, deorbit, atmospheric return, and approach to the Starbase tower. The catch mechanism is intended to grab the vehicle using arms mounted on the launch tower. A successful return would provide data about vehicle guidance, reentry control, and the interaction between the spacecraft and the tower recovery system. A safe ocean landing or an early end to the return attempt would still provide test data, but it would not demonstrate the planned tower catch.

Flight 15 also provides a real flight test of the V3 generation in orbital conditions, following Flight 14’s orbital milestone. The practical impact is incremental: each milestone can inform subsequent Starship tests and the broader goal of reusing both stages. It does not by itself establish routine rapid reuse, operational readiness for crew, or a timetable for future missions.

How can viewers follow the return?

SpaceX is the primary source for mission updates and any official livestream. Check the company’s launches page and its official social channels before the return window, since webcast timing and mission status can change. The FAA’s operations plan advisory provides airspace and reentry planning windows, not a live vehicle tracker.

For independent reporting on the launch outcome and satellite deployment, see Associated Press coverage of Flight 15. SpaceX’s Flight 14 mission report supplies context for the previous orbital test. The latest confirmed developments here are the booster’s offshore splashdown and the Ship’s orbital deployment; the Ship catch remains pending.

Frequently asked questions

Did Starship Flight 15 launch?

Yes. Flight 15 launched from Starbase on November 13, 2026. The booster splashed down offshore, while the Ship stage continued to orbit.

Did SpaceX catch the Ship?

Not as of this update, checked November 14 at 1:03 a.m. UTC. Its return and first tower-catch attempt are planned for later Saturday.

What time is the listed reentry window?

The FAA advisory lists November 14, 20:56 UTC to November 15, 00:14 UTC. At Starbase, that is November 14, 2:56–6:14 p.m. CST.