Starship flight 15 powers to orbit and deploys 26 satellites
SpaceX has marked a major milestone as its Starship vehicle completed its 15th test flight from Starbase, Texas, reaching low-Earth orbit for the second time and operating as an active satellite deployment platform. Lifting off on a calm Friday evening, the rocket achieved a nominal ascent before the upper stage separated over the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 40 minutes into the mission, Starship successfully released 26 Starlink V3 satellites equipped with 60-meter solar arrays into orbit, where they will use onboard propulsion to raise their altitude.
Despite the orbital success, the mission faced setbacks with stage recovery. An unspecified issue prevented the version 3 first-stage booster from returning to the Starbase launch tower for capture, resulting in a diversion and heavy explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX now looks to make history on Saturday with a potential first-ever catch attempt of the upper stage at Starbase around 3:15 pm local time (21:15 UTC), provided orbital checkouts ensure safe passage over Mexico and the United States. To endure reentry, the spacecraft incorporates refined heat shield defenses from its September test, including curved tiles designed to prevent plasma penetration between gaps.
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