SpaceX catches Starship upper stage for first time: 'It was almost magic'

SpaceX has caught the upper stage of its next-generation Starship rocket for the first time, snagging the spacecraft with a mechanical robotic arm after it completed 14 orbits of Earth and returned to its launch site.

According to SpaceX's live test-flight broadcast, the upper stage of the two-stage Starship rocket — launched from Starbase, Texas, on Friday — spent about 22 hours and 32 minutes orbiting Earth at an altitude of roughly 165 miles (about 266 kilometers) before returning to the launch site Saturday (local time). The spacecraft emerged through the clouds and was caught by the robotic arm. Crowds near the launch pad erupted in cheers, raising their arms and embracing one another.

Commentator Dan Huot exclaimed, "Can you believe it? She's back!" SpaceX played the rock band Player's "Baby Come Back" as background music during the broadcast. The company said all spacecraft systems, including the heat shield, appeared to have functioned normally.

SpaceX has previously recovered the first-stage booster multiple times after it separates and completes its role in the atmosphere. Recovering the upper stage, which travels all the way to space, is a first.

However, a simultaneous recovery of both stages was not achieved. The first-stage booster, called Super Heavy, fell into the Gulf of Mexico and exploded about 10 minutes after liftoff. Kate Tice, SpaceX's director of quality systems, said the cause was an engine burn that cut off too early during descent.

This was the 15th flight of Starship since its first test in 2023 and the second test flight to reach Earth orbit.

Elon Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Congrats to the incredible SpaceX teams." NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called it "almost magic," adding moon and American flag emojis and writing, "More and more people are becoming believers every day. One step closer to America's moon plans."