AP
SpaceX Starship Launch
SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is stacked and prepared for a test flight from Starbase, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026.
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A booster malfunction has thwarted SpaceX’s attempt to recover its entire Starship back at the Texas launch pad. The first-stage booster malfunctioned several minutes after Friday's liftoff and ended up in the Gulf of Mexico. But the spacecraft soared into orbit with 26 Starlink satellites for delivery. If all goes well, Elon Musk’s SpaceX will try to grab the spacecraft back at the pad on Saturday. The test flight, planned to last 22 hours, is the boldest yet for Starship. The spacecraft will complete 15 laps around Earth before tackling the grand finale.
