SpaceX aims to recover Starship with tower arms

On October 10, 2026, in Austin, Texas, Elon Musk confirmed that SpaceX would attempt to recover the Starship using mechanical arms on the launch tower at Boca Chica. The fifteenth test is expected to take place "in four to six weeks," a maneuver no orbital launcher has ever performed after a flight.

Mechanical arms designed for rocket recovery

The recovery method involves two articulated arms fixed to the launch tower, nicknamed "chopsticks." These arms are intended to grasp each section of the rocket during its controlled descent. SpaceX has already successfully used this technique to recover the Super Heavy, the first stage of the rocket, in October 2024.

Starship still lands in the ocean

Despite the progress with the Super Heavy, the Starship itself has never returned to land. Instead, it always ends its flight with a controlled landing in the ocean. During the fourteenth test on September 28, 2026, neither the Super Heavy nor the Starship returned to the tower. The Super Heavy landed in the Gulf of Mexico, while the upper part of the rocket plunged into the Pacific.

Starship reaches orbit despite software issue

During the fourteenth test, the Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time after thirteen tests since April 2023. It also successfully deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. However, one of the six Raptor engines shut down too early during the ascent, leading the company to shorten the mission.

Software defect identified as minor issue

The early engine shutdown was described as "fairly easy to correct" and traced to a software issue controlling a single engine, according to Science et vie. This suggests that the problem is isolated and can be resolved without major redesigns or delays.