Starship Reaches Orbit as Booster Catch Fails and Splashes Down

WHO:

NY Post - SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company, conducted the Starship flight.

Phys.org - SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Elon Musk’s company were involved in the planned return and vehicle catch.

WHAT:

NY Post - Starship soared into orbit; its booster exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, preventing SpaceX from completing a double catch.

Phys.org - Starship was described as “healthy” while orbiting Earth and was on track to return to its launch site.

Phys.org - SpaceX was planning to “catch” Starship at the Texas launch site for the first time.

WHERE:

NY Post - The booster exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.

Phys.org - Starship was orbiting Earth and was expected to return to SpaceX’s Texas launch site.

WHY:

NY Post - The booster’s loss meant SpaceX missed out on a double catch.

HOW:

Phys.org - SpaceX planned to catch the returning Starship at its Texas launch site.

(UPDATED November 14, 2026 11:57 UTC)

SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit and remained healthy, but its booster exploded over the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion prevented the company from completing its planned double catch. Starship was expected to return to SpaceX’s Texas launch site, where the company planned to catch it for the first time.