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Comment by baw-bag | original | SpaceX catches the Starship to end Flight 15
[−]baw-bag · 2026-11-14 Sat 21:45 UTC · link
Do we just look past the failed primary booster objective? (I didn't write the brief)

Edit: Yes, ignore that bit.

[−]consensus1 · 2026-11-14 Sat 21:55 UTC · link
Booster catch has been done as has booster re-flight. The only remaining part of the full functionality that has not been proven out is ship reuse.
[−]baw-bag · 2026-11-14 Sat 21:59 UTC · link
I see.

"The booster’s primary objective on Flight 15 will be executing a successful launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and return to the launch site for catch. This will be the first return and catch attempt for a Super Heavy V3 booster." [1]

[1] https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-15

[−]roodypoo2 · 2026-11-14 Sat 22:09 UTC · link
Please go back to reddit
[−]thinkcontext · 2026-11-14 Sat 23:25 UTC · link
We don't have to look past it. Musk said it failed because engine underperformance caused too little fuel margin. He added that they have upgrades due on future flights.

If they ran out of fuel with 50 tons of payload it certainly begs the question of whether they will get to the goal of 100 tons of payload even with upgrades.

They also had engine fail on boostback. Reliability has been a persistent problem, they'll have to fix it for refueling and manned operations.