{
  "id": 19891389,
  "title": "SpaceX's Starship soars into orbit after booster malfunction thwarts double catch attempt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/spacexs-starship-soars-into-orbit-after-booster-malfunction-thwarts",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-14T00:20:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PBS NewsHour Science",
    "slug": "pbs-newshour-science",
    "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/spacexs-starship-soars-into-orbit-after-booster-malfunction-thwarts-double-catch-attempt"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "SpaceX's Starship successfully reached orbit after a booster malfunction disrupted initial recovery plans. The booster crashed into the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to its launch pad, but the spacecraft continued its journey. SpaceX plans to retrieve the spacecraft from orbit on Saturday using mechanical arms, aiming for a 22-hour flight. This marks the first time the spacecraft attempts an orbit-to-pad return for retrieval, a potential step towards recycling rocket components. The mission carried 26 advanced Starlink satellites, which will orbit the Earth 15 times before returning to Earth. SpaceX has previously successfully recovered smaller boosters, but this is the first attempt with the upgraded 236-foot Starship model, designed for moon and Mars missions. The Starship measures 407 feet in height, making it the largest and most powerful rocket in the world. SpaceX aims to scale up infrastructure for frequent launches and eventually replace conventional rockets with Starships. While Falcon rockets are still not fully reusable, Elon Musk envisions a future where Starships take over entirely. NASA is paying SpaceX billions to deliver Artemis astronauts to the moon, potentially using Starships if chosen over Blue Origin's Blue Moon. The first astronauts will test docking with both Starship and Blue Moon during the Artemis III mission in 2028.",
  "summary": "SpaceX's attempt to recover its entire Starship back at the launch pad was thwarted when the booster malfunctioned and ended up in the water Friday, but the spacecraft still soared into orbit in its boldest test yet.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Space.com",
        "title": "SpaceX's Starship megarocket will launch to orbit on Nov. 13. Will you be able to spot it in the night sky?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/spacexs-starship-megarocket-will-launch-to-orbit-on-nov-13-will-you",
        "published": "2026-11-12T20:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Science",
        "title": "SpaceX to attempt double catch of huge Starship rocket",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/spacex-to-attempt-double-catch-of-huge-starship-rocket",
        "published": "2026-11-13T20:12:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "SpaceX to attempt double catch of huge Starship rocket",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/spacex-to-attempt-double-catch-of-huge-starship-rocket-19886468",
        "published": "2026-11-13T21:09:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "SpaceX's Starship enters Earth's orbit, but booster catch aborted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/spacexs-starship-enters-earths-orbit-but-booster-catch-aborted",
        "published": "2026-11-13T23:57:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}