SpaceX aborts Starship booster catch after launch, ship stays on course
What's next: The upper-stage spacecraft was due to complete 14 orbits and could attempt its first tower catch after about 22.5 hours.
SpaceX called off a planned catch of Starship’s Super Heavy booster after the rocket lifted off from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on Friday, sending the stage into the Gulf of Mexico instead of back to the launch tower. The 124-meter rocket, on its 15th test flight, still reached a key goal when the upper-stage Ship made orbit and deployed 26 Starlink satellites. SpaceX said the booster detected a guidance, navigation and control issue during descent and aborted the catch before self-destructing over the water. The company said the Ship and its heat shield were healthy as it continued a 14-orbit mission, with a possible first attempt to catch the upper stage at the Texas site on Saturday.