Musk says "incredible team at SpaceX" after Starship retrieval

On Saturday, SpaceX successfully retrieved its Starship vehicle after it spent more than a day orbiting Earth, using the tower’s large articulated arms to secure the upper stage as it descended, marking the inaugural instance of such a recovery. The flight, the company’s 15th test of a complete Starship and only its second orbital attempt, saw the craft complete fourteen circuits, release twenty‑six Starlink satellites, and survive while its booster segment detonated over the Gulf of Mexico shortly after launch. CEO Elon Musk posted a congratulatory message to the staff on X. NASA officials praised the achievement, noting its relevance to the agency’s Artemis program, which contracts SpaceX to transport astronauts to the Moon in the coming decade, with further launches planned from Florida.