Watch: SpaceX catches Starship in midair on return to launch tower

Loading the video No Comment Video. Watch: SpaceX catches Starship in midair on return to launch tower Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 15 November 2026 - 11:05 GMT+1 SpaceX's Starship spacecraft was successfully caught by giant mechanical arms at its Texas launch tower after a 22-hour journey, marking the first successful midair capture of a Starship returning from space. SpaceX's Starship spacecraft was caught in midair by giant mechanical arms at its launch tower in Starbase, Texas, on Saturday, November 14, marking a major milestone for the company's space programme. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The spacecraft returned to Earth after a 22-hour journey, descending upright before being caught by the tower's mechanical arms. Crowds gathered at the site cheered as Starship was secured above the ground. The successful capture marked the first time a Starship returning from space had been caught by the launch tower. However, SpaceX did not achieve its planned double catch after the first-stage booster exploded shortly after Friday's liftoff. SpaceX plans to begin launching Starships from Florida's Kennedy Space Center in the coming months. The spacecraft is also central to NASA's plans for future Artemis missions to the Moon. SpaceX Space mission Elon Musk Top stories Now playing Next Watch: SpaceX catches Starship in midair on return to launch tower Now playing Next UK: Christmas at Kew 2026 unveils spectacular light trail in London Now playing Next North Macedonia: Kriva Palanka seeks help over 1,000 free-roaming cows Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 15th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next Judo: double gold for Canada on day 2 at Zagreb Grand Prix Now playing Next France sees fifth consecutive Saturday of nationwide protests Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 14th, 2026 – Evening Now playing Next EU brings Italy and Poland into peace talks as Kallas fights for spot Now playing Next Kallas says 'Russians don't want me' as EU envoy for peace talks Now playing Next Microsoft outage explained: what went wrong and is your data at risk? Now playing Next The right to a home: Spain’s cooperative answer to the housing crisis Now playing Next Airlines expect to return to full schedules by Sunday night: FAA Now playing Next Qatar and Turkey sign defence agreement for “unified position” facing external attacks Now playing Next Pope Leo XIV continues trip through South America as health authorities keep watch Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 14th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Airlines expect to return to full schedules by Sunday night after US nationwide ground stop, FAA says ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Turkey: Six-metre Trojan Horse spills plastic waste at COP31 No Comment Ukraine: Russian drone attacks hit Kyiv hospital, leave two dead in Odesa No Comment Portugal: Humanoid robots take centre stage at Web Summit 2026 No Comment Peru: Pope Leo XIV leads youth prayer vigil at Lima's National Stadium Design Rubik's Cube production returns to Hungary more than 50 years after invention Sport Judo: The Final Grand Prix of 2026 Kicks Off in Zagreb EU News EU leaders bring Italy and Poland into Ukraine peace talks team as Kallas fights for spot World News More live news, more conversations, more Europe: Euronews reinvents itself for its new season EU News Kallas says 'Russians don't want me' as EU envoy for peace talks Made in Europe The right to a home: Spain’s cooperative answer to the housing crisis Economy European diesel prices stay high as global oil supply overtakes demand, IEA says Cinema Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'Club Kid' - Sex, drugs & sudden parenthood ADVERTISEMENT Tech News Ex-Nvidia CEO Huang and US Commerce Secretary Lutnick summoned to testify before Congress Europe News ExxonMobil sues EU over rules forcing oil giants to invest in carbon storage Tech News Microsoft outage explained: what went wrong and is your data at risk? World News US denies IRGC destroyed American radar in Bahrain after attack on southern Iran Culture news José Pinhal's rediscovered songs sell out Porto and Lisbon Coliseums Tech News Outlook outage: how to keep working and which email alternatives you can use Europe Today 'The market will look for alternatives,' on Huang resignation says Andrea Renda, Digital Economy expert Europe Today 'The structure of the European economy needs to change more quickly,' says IMF Europe chief Mateusz Szczurek ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT