SpaceX Prepares for Second Starship Booster Catch Attempt
SpaceX is making a second catch attempt for its Starship rocket, following a previous unsuccessful effort where the booster landed in the ocean.
Baton Rouge, LA, November 14, 2026 — SpaceX is preparing for a significant milestone in its Starship program, announcing plans for a second attempt to catch the rocket’s Super Heavy booster. This upcoming operation follows a previous attempt that did not result in a successful catch, with the booster ultimately landing in the ocean.
The company has been developing its Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster system with the goal of enabling fully reusable rocket technology. A key component of this reusability involves the sophisticated process of catching the massive booster as it returns from space, rather than letting it splash down in the ocean.
During the previous attempt, the booster’s landing maneuver did not proceed as planned, leading to its controlled descent into the ocean. Details regarding the specific outcomes of that prior attempt, beyond the booster’s uncontrolled landing, were not provided in the summary. Information such as the exact date of the prior attempt, the specific failure points observed during the landing sequence, or any resulting damage was not detailed.
SpaceX is now targeting a new opportunity to execute this complex maneuver. The success of this second catch attempt is considered crucial for advancing the Starship program’s objective of rapid and routine reusability. The company has not released specific dates or further technical details for the upcoming catch attempt, nor has it provided information on the contractor involved in the retrieval process or any potential challenges encountered beyond the previous landing outcome.
The development of the Starship system is ongoing, with SpaceX continuing to test and iterate on its designs and operational procedures. This next catch attempt represents another step in the iterative testing process aimed at validating the technology required for future missions.
Story summarized from the original created by SignalNews Network on www.bbc.co.uk, see more information here.
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