The story so far
- SpaceX Set to Attempt Risky 'Holy Grail' Rocket Catch21 sources
- SpaceX Booster Explodes as Starship Reaches OrbitYou are here
- SpaceX Catches Starship With Launch Pad Arms After Orbit22 sourcesLatest
Updated 1h ago · Science
SpaceX Booster Explodes as Starship Reaches Orbit
SpaceX launched Starship on its 15th test flight Friday from Starbase, Texas. The booster missed its planned tower catch, but the spacecraft reached orbit.
- 33 Raptor engines powered the Super Heavy booster at liftoff.
- 26 advanced Starlink satellites were carried aboard the spacecraft for deployment.
- 407 feet tall: Starship is the largest, most powerful rocket built.
- 3 earlier booster catches succeeded; this upgraded booster was the first try.
Why it matters: SpaceX aims to recover every part of the rocket for reuse. Musk says that enables the launch rates needed for moon bases and Mars.
- NASA is paying SpaceX billions to land Artemis astronauts on the moon.
- Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander is competing for the Artemis IV landing.
How 27 sources split on this story
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27 sources · 32 articles · 44% Center coverage
Center coverage, 12 sources: The center leads with the failed booster catch, then the spacecraft reaching orbit.
PBS NewsHour1dSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit after booster malfunction thwarts double catch attemptYahoo News1dFirst catch aborted in SpaceX Starship rocket double-catch testFrance 246hElon Musk's SpaceX aborts booster recovery due to technical issuesabc27 (WHTM)5hSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit after booster explosion prevents an unprecedented double catchAssociated Press1dSpaceX’s attempt for a Starship double catch is thwarted when the booster ends up in Gulf of MexicoCNBC1dSpaceX launches Starship in key test flight of massive rocketCTV News23hSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit after double catch thwarted by booster’s water landingDeutsche Welle22hSetback for SpaceX reusable rocket system despite successful launchFinancial Times1dSpaceX aborts attempt to catch Starship rocket after booster failsKXAN Austin1hSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit after booster explosion prevents an unprecedented double catchNews4Jax1dSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit after double catch thwarted by booster malfunctionWFLA News Channel 85hSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit after booster explosion prevents an unprecedented double catch
Left coverage, 5 sources: The left frames the flight as a history-making reuse attempt tied to Musk's push to send humans into space.
The Guardian1dSpaceX Starship megarocket blasts off before expected return for reuseGizmodo7hWatch SpaceX Try to Salvage Its Attempt to Catch a StarshipHuffPost1dSpaceX’s Starship Soars Into Orbit After Double Catch Thwarted By Booster MalfunctionLos Angeles Times20hSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit after booster explosionThe Verge2hWatch SpaceX successfully execute the first ‘chopstick’ catch of Starship
Right10 sources
Hot Air8hHere's Why the Flight 15 Booster Catch Was AbandonedThe Epoch Times2dSpaceX Sends 2nd Starship Into Orbit, Aborts Booster Catch at LaunchpadThe Sun2hIncredible moment smoking SpaceX rocket caught by Elon Musk’s ‘Mechazilla’ in world first after booster explosion failBizPac Review7hSpaceX Starship booster explodes in massive fireball after diverted Gulf of America landingCitizen Free Press9hBooster explosion prevents double catch of SpaceX Starship — here’s the video.Daily Mail13hSpaceX setback for Elon Musk as attempt to catch booster rocket ends in fireball - but firm still hopes to grab Starship spacecraft with giant chopsticksNew York Post13hSpaceX’s Starship soars into orbit — after booster explodes in Gulf of MexicoNTD19hSpaceX’s Starship Soars Into Orbit After Double Catch Thwarted by Booster's Water LandingThe Gateway Pundit22hWATCH: SpaceX Booster Explodes During Test Flight at Starbase * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan ConradsonThe Washington Times9hSpaceX's Starship soars into orbit after booster explosion prevents an unprecedented double catch
What’s next: Starship plans 15 orbits at about 170 miles up before Saturday's catch attempt.
- SpaceX plans Starship launches from Florida within months.
- Artemis III next summer will test docking with both landers in Earth orbit.
- What caused the booster malfunction and automatic abort?
- Will the tower catch the spacecraft on its return from orbit?
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