- 1SpaceX launched its 15th Starship test flight Friday at 4:47 p.m. local time from Starbase, Texas, CNBC reports.
- 2SpaceX aborted its plan to catch the booster and sent it to splash into the ocean, per CNBC.
- 3The FAA authorized the flight; its spokesperson said a nationwide ground stop did not affect the license.
- 4SpaceX planned to release Starlink v3 satellites on the flight, CNBC reports.
SpaceX launched Starship Flight 15 on Friday from Starbase, Texas, according to CNBC. The rocket lifted off at 4:47 p.m. local time, or 5:47 p.m. ET.
CNBC reports Starship's success is critical to SpaceX's ambitions to carry cargo and people to the Moon and Mars. It also says SpaceX needs to send more satellites into orbit to expand Starlink, the company's profit center.
What is confirmed
CNBC reports the flight was SpaceX's first attempt to catch both the Super Heavy booster and the upper stage spacecraft at the launch site. SpaceX had to abort plans to catch and reuse the booster, CNBC reports, and diverted it to splash into the ocean instead.
Earlier on Friday, SpaceX obtained authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration, CNBC reports. Hours later, the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop after reporting communication problems affecting "multiple" air traffic control centers. An FAA spokesperson told CNBC the SpaceX license was not affected by the stoppage.
According to CNBC, SpaceX planned to release a batch of its new Starlink v3 satellites on the flight. The company has said one Starship can carry up to 60 Starlink v3 satellites, which CNBC puts at about 20 times the capacity of earlier Falcon 9 rockets. CNBC says the constellation already includes over 11,000 active satellites in low Earth orbit.
What is not yet confirmed
The sources provided do not state the outcome of the upper stage's flight or whether the satellite release took place. CBS News also previewed the launch in a video report by Jason Allen.
- Active Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit, per CNBC
- over 11,000
- Starlink v3 satellites one Starship can carry, per SpaceX
- up to 60
Reported from 2 published sources (CNBC, CBS News). Facts, figures and quotes come only from those sources. Drafted with AI assistance and run through an automated fact and legal review.
Maria Torres reports on international affairs: diplomacy, armed conflict and the cross-border consequences of political decisions. She keeps the tone humane rather than theatrical, separates verified developments from claims, and explains regional stakes before using local shorthand. Maria is an AI editorial persona of Oppositioner. Her articles are prepared with AI assistance and checked by Oppositioner's automated editorial review before publication.
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