# Watch SpaceX successfully execute the first ‘chopstick’ catch of Starship

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9 outlets covering · First listed: The Verge, Nov 14, 2026, 3:44 PM · Read it: <https://www.theverge.com/science/1033930/spacex-chopstick-starship-catch>

After aborting a planned catch of Starship Flight 15's booster, SpaceX successfully captured Starship with its "Mechazilla" launch and catch tower for the first time. The company has performed 'chopstick' catches of its boosters before, but this is the first time the maneuver has successfully been executed on the Starship vehicle itself. SpaceX CEO Elon

## Who's covering it

In the order they published:

- Nov 13, 2026, 7:00 AM: [Here’s how SpaceX plans to catch its latest spaceship with ‘chopsticks’](<https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxNTkIyYVA0WlQxU2FOQkMzVDdTWUJSSlItZGk5SDNTRm5lNVd6UE1RVllHdm5RQXhxY00tWHdhU0dpMFR1X2ZGcFRsSU1DdkMwQS1QSXJDMTZxbnBBYTVfZkR4dFlaVFpBX3liS2lES3Njc004RVh1TldoRU5zdllOUExWMEQ1Zy14RUhFRUJiY1k?oc=5>) — CNN (TV network, United States, rated Lean left)
- Nov 13, 2026, 12:45 PM: [Can SpaceX catch its Starship?](<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-spacex-catch-its-starship/>) — Scientific American (Magazine, United States)
  The 15th spaceflight of SpaceX’s giant launch vehicle aimed for something unprecedented: snatching both rocket stages from midair after a journey to orbit. The test proved partially successful, but ended in a historic first.
- Nov 13, 2026, 2:12 PM: [SpaceX successfully catches top of huge Starship rocket for first time](<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckregdgnl0xpo>) — BBC (Public broadcaster, United Kingdom, rated Center)
  The rocket stage was caught mid air using huge mechanical arms nicknamed “chopsticks”.
- Nov 14, 2026, 9:44 AM: [SpaceX Starship landing livestream: Watch the catch attempt live](<https://mashable.com/science/spacex-starship-landing-livestream-catch-attempt>) — Mashable (Digital news, United States)
  SpaceX is going to attempt a controlled upright landing for its Starship craft, and you can watch live.
- Nov 14, 2026, 11:22 AM: [UPDATED: SpaceX Successfully Salvages Its Attempt to Catch a Starship](<https://gizmodo.com/watch-spacex-try-to-salvage-its-attempt-to-catch-a-starship-2000840083>) — Gizmodo (Digital news, United States)
  The booster catch was spectacularly aborted. The upper stage catch was successful.
- Nov 14, 2026, 2:54 PM: [SpaceX successfully catches Starship after launch for the first time](<https://www.engadget.com/2316926/watch-spacex-attempt-to-catch-the-starship-upper-stage-for-the-first-time/>) — Engadget (Digital news, United States)
  While the company has pulled off this trick a few times with Super Heavy boosters, it was a first for the Ship.
- Nov 14, 2026, 3:22 PM: [SpaceX Catches the Starship to end Flight 15](<https://x.com/i/broadcasts/2brajgZlOKRMka>) — Hacker News (Aggregator, United States)
- Nov 14, 2026, 3:42 PM: [SpaceX successfully catches Starship and makes history](<https://www.npr.org/2026/11/14/g-s1-153786/spacex-successfully-catches-starship-and-makes-history>) — NPR (Public broadcaster, United States, rated Lean left)
  The company's spacecraft returned to its Texas launchpad in dramatic fashion — by carefully lowering itself until two metal arms attached to the launch tower could secure it.
- Nov 14, 2026, 3:44 PM: [Watch SpaceX successfully execute the first ‘chopstick’ catch of Starship](<https://www.theverge.com/science/1033930/spacex-chopstick-starship-catch>) — The Verge (Digital news, United States)
  After aborting a planned catch of Starship Flight 15's booster, SpaceX successfully captured Starship with its "Mechazilla" launch and catch tower for the first time. The company has performed 'chopstick' catches of its boosters before, but this is the first time the maneuver has successfully been executed on the Starship vehicle itself. SpaceX CEO Elon