# SpaceX Makes History With Successful Rocket Catch in Texas > HelixNews · Web page: https://helixnews.one/story/4845768 · All pages for agents: https://helixnews.one/llms.txt 8 outlets covering · First listed: New York Times, Nov 14, 2026, 6:36 PM · Read it: The Starship spacecraft returned from orbit to the same spot where it lifted off, marking a key milestone in SpaceX’s vision of building fully reusable rockets. AI summary (may contain mistakes): SpaceX’s Starship returned from orbit and was caught by mechanical arms at its Texas launchpad, the first such recovery of the vehicle. The first-stage booster did not return as planned: CBS News and PBS NewsHour reported it exploded after liftoff, while The Defiant said it diverted to an offshore splashdown. ## Who's covering it In the order they published: - Nov 13, 2026, 12:45 PM: [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]() — BBC (Public broadcaster, United Kingdom, rated Center) The rocket stage was caught mid air using huge mechanical arms nicknamed “chopsticks”. - Nov 13, 2026, 5:43 PM: [SpaceX catches returning Starship rocket in breakthrough for Musk]() — Financial Times (Newspaper, United Kingdom, rated Center) Successful landing of upper stage is key to founder’s aim of sending reusable manned rockets to Mars - Nov 14, 2026, 3:09 AM: [Setback for SpaceX Starship rocket's double-catch test]() — Yahoo News (Digital news, United States, rated Lean left) The Starship rocket launched successfully on Friday \[Getty Images\] SpaceX will decide later whether to try to catch the top part of its huge Starship rocket as it returns to Earth.The company had hoped to catch both the bottom and upper stages of the rocket using mechanical arms - nicknamed chopsticks - on its launch tower.But the first catch of the rocket's booster was aborted a few minutes after the launch, and instead the booster diverted to the ocean, bursting into flames just above the sea.The top part, known as the Ship, is due to return to Earth at about 15:15 local time (21:15 GMT) on… - Nov 14, 2026, 3:14 PM: [SpaceX catches upper stage of Starship rocket in historic first]() — CNBC (Business & finance, United States, rated Center) Starship Test Flight 15 marked the first time Elon Musk's company tried to catch both the booster and upper stage of the rocket. - Nov 14, 2026, 3:42 PM: [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, 5:34 PM: [SpaceX successfully catches Starship rocket in huge milestone for the space industry]() — MarketWatch (Business & finance, United States, rated Center) The historic first gets SpaceX closer to “rapid reusability” of rockets. - Nov 14, 2026, 6:36 PM: [SpaceX Makes History With Successful Rocket Catch in Texas]() — New York Times (Newspaper, United States, rated Lean left) The Starship spacecraft returned from orbit to the same spot where it lifted off, marking a key milestone in SpaceX’s vision of building fully reusable rockets.