SpaceX launched its 15th Starship test flight on Friday at 4:47 p.m. local time (5:47 p.m. ET) from its Starbase facility in Texas, marking the company's first attempt to catch both the Super Heavy booster and upper stage spacecraft at the launch site. The flight proceeded after SpaceX obtained Federal Aviation Administration authorization on Friday. The test is critical to SpaceX's ambitions to transport cargo and people to the Moon and Mars, and to expand its Starlink satellite internet service, which currently serves as the company's profit center.
SpaceX Aborts Super Heavy Booster Catch During Flight 15
SpaceX aborted plans to catch and reuse the Super Heavy booster during the Friday test flight, instead diverting it to splash into the ocean. The company, which began Starship test flights in 2023, had intended this flight to be the first dual-catch attempt of both the booster and spacecraft. Earlier on Friday, the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop after reporting communication problems affecting multiple air traffic control centers, though an FAA spokesperson told CNBC the SpaceX license was not affected by the flight stoppage.
SpaceX Plans Starlink v3 Satellite Deployment in Test Flight
SpaceX planned to release a batch of new Starlink v3 satellites into orbit during Friday's test flight. The company's constellation already includes over 11,000 active satellites in low Earth orbit. One Starship rocket has the capacity to carry up to 60 Starlink v3 satellites into orbit, representing about 20 times the capacity of earlier Falcon 9 rockets, according to SpaceX. In the previous Starship test flight, the company released 26 Starlink v3 satellites. SpaceX stated in a post on X that it planned to release another 26 satellites in the Friday test flight with the goal of "Starlink becoming 51% of the internet."
Ukraine Reports Renewed Starshield Service Restrictions
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that his country's military forces experienced limits on Starshield satellite internet service without warning, harming their ability to defend against Russia's ongoing aerial attacks. Starshield is built on Starlink technology and serves as the military-tier of SpaceX's satellite internet service. Similar limits on Starshield in Ukraine were temporarily imposed last month. Some U.S. Senators condemned the restrictions and urged Congress to investigate SpaceX.
FAQ
What did SpaceX attempt during its 15th Starship test flight on Friday?
SpaceX launched its 15th Starship test flight on Friday at 4:47 p.m. local time from Starbase, Texas, attempting for the first time to catch both the Super Heavy booster and upper stage spacecraft at the launch site. The company aborted the booster catch and diverted it to splash into the ocean.
How many Starlink satellites can one Starship rocket carry into orbit?
One Starship rocket has the capacity to carry up to 60 Starlink v3 satellites into orbit, according to SpaceX. This represents about 20 times the capacity of earlier Falcon 9 rockets. The company's constellation already includes over 11,000 active satellites in low Earth orbit.
Why did Ukraine report issues with SpaceX's Starshield service earlier this week?
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that his country's military forces experienced limits on Starshield satellite internet service without warning, harming their ability to defend against Russia's ongoing aerial attacks. Similar limits were temporarily imposed last month, prompting some U.S. Senators to urge Congress to investigate SpaceX.
