From Ars Technica · · 1m 50s
Starship reaches orbit, eyes historic catch
SpaceX's 15th test flight deploys satellites and sets up an attempt to catch the upper stage on Saturday.
In brief
SpaceX's 15th test flight deploys satellites and sets up an attempt to catch the upper stage on Saturday. Starship completed its 15th test flight, deploying 26 Starlink satellites into orbit and proving itself an operational rocket. SpaceX now attempts to catch the upper stage on Saturday, a first that would test…
Starship lifts off from South Texas
SpaceX launched Starship on its 15th test flight Friday evening from Starbase in ideal conditions. The massive rocket rose flawlessly into the atmosphere as the Sun sank toward the western horizon.
Upper stage powers into orbit
The first stage released the upper stage above the Gulf of Mexico. Starship's Raptor engines ignited and powered it into nominal orbit, the second time SpaceX has flown Starship into low-Earth orbit.
26 Starlink satellites deployed
About 40 minutes into flight, Starship deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites from a narrow door at the spacecraft's base. All satellites with solar panels stretching 60 meters end to end safely reached orbit.
Starship is now operational
Starship is the largest and most powerful machine humans have ever launched into space. The primary mission succeeded, proving Starship an operational orbital rocket, though SpaceX must now make it reusable and increase flight rate.
First stage diverted to ocean
Due to an unspecified issue, the first stage booster was commanded to divert into the Gulf rather than return to Starbase for capture.
Upper stage catch attempt Saturday
SpaceX will attempt to catch the Starship upper stage on Saturday at about 3:15 pm local time in Texas, a first the company has never tried.
Heat shield improvements tested
Catching the upper stage would test critical heat shield technology. SpaceX applied learnings from September's test flight, including additional tile retention mechanisms and a curved tile design to reduce heating in gaps between tiles.
The short version
Starship completed its 15th test flight, deploying 26 Starlink satellites into orbit and proving itself an operational rocket. SpaceX now attempts to catch the upper stage on Saturday, a first that would test critical heat shield technology.
