SpaceX captured a starship for the first time after an orbital flight.
On November 14, SpaceX captured the starship returning from orbit for the first time using mechanical manipulators from the launch tower at Starbase in Texas.
The ship completed the 15th test flight of the Starship rocket system, launched on November 13. In 22.5 hours it completed 14 revolutions around the Earth at an altitude of about 265 km and launched 26 Starlink satellites into orbit. After entering the atmosphere, the device slowed its engines and descended between the turret grips.
However, the company was unable to fulfill the initial plan to return the two stages of the rocket. During the return the booster engines of the Super Heavy shut down earlier than planned. The guidance system disabled the turret, sent the booster into the Gulf of Mexico and activated the self-destruct system.
In the past, SpaceX has returned a super heavy booster three times this way, but the starship could not be captured before this flight.
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