SpaceX Achieves Orbital Insertion as FDA Approves New Kidney Therapy and FAA Investigates L3Harris Outage

By / / Breaking News

This update was written automatically with AI from market data and news wire reports, and published without review by a person.

Key Takeaways

  • SpaceX successfully launched Starship Flight 15, achieving a nominal orbital insertion and deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites, though it aborted the planned "chopsticks" catch of the Super Heavy booster.
  • The US FDA granted approval to Roche's (RHHBY) Gazyva as the first-ever treatment for adults with primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), a rare autoimmune kidney disease.
  • A nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday impacted over 13,000 flights due to a telecommunications failure reportedly involving infrastructure managed by L3Harris Technologies (LHX).
  • Roche (RHHBY) shares may see increased interest following the landmark approval, which addresses a disease where up to 30% of patients otherwise progress to kidney failure.
  • L3Harris (LHX) faces scrutiny as federal officials investigate whether a network update or aging infrastructure caused the critical air traffic control communications blackout.

SpaceX Starship Flight 15 Reaches Orbit, Aborts Booster Catch

SpaceX launched its Starship megarocket on its 15th test flight from Starbase, Texas, on November 13, 2026. The mission achieved a major milestone by reaching a nominal orbit at an altitude of approximately 275 km, marking only the second time the upper stage has successfully entered Earth's orbit. During its coast, the vehicle deployed 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, which are expected to add a full terabit of data capacity to the constellation.

Despite the orbital success, the ambitious "double catch" recovery plan was only partially attempted. The Super Heavy Booster 22 aborted its return to the launch tower "chopsticks" and instead performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Reports indicate the booster's flight termination system was activated shortly after, causing the vehicle to break apart. The Ship 42 upper stage remains in orbit for a planned 22-hour mission, with a first-ever tower catch attempt for the ship scheduled for November 14.

FDA Approves Roche's Gazyva for Rare Kidney Disease

The US FDA has officially approved Roche's (RHHBY) Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for the treatment of adults with primary membranous nephropathy (pMN). This marks the first FDA-approved therapy for the chronic autoimmune condition, which was previously treated with off-label immunosuppressants. The approval follows a Priority Review and is based on Phase III MAJESTY trial results, where Gazyva demonstrated a 36.9% complete remission rate at two years, compared to just 5.7% for the comparator, tacrolimus.

This regulatory win expands the portfolio for Roche (RHHBY) and its subsidiary Genentech, which recently secured an approval for Gazyva in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in September 2026. Industry analysts suggest the clear clinical superiority shown in trials could position Gazyva as the new standard of care for pMN patients at risk of disease progression.

L3Harris Infrastructure Linked to Massive FAA Flight Disruptions

A major telecommunications outage on Friday led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a nationwide ground stop, grounding or delaying more than 13,000 flights across the United States. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the failure appears to have originated within a communications network managed by L3Harris Technologies (LHX). The network is responsible for the radio frequencies used by air traffic controllers to communicate with pilots.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that the disruption may have been caused by an update and subsequent reboot of the system, though aging hardware was also cited as a contributing factor. While the ground stop was lifted after approximately four hours, the incident has reignited calls for a massive $50 billion modernization of US air traffic control systems. L3Harris (LHX) has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the specific technical failure, but the event highlights the vulnerability of the nation's critical aerospace infrastructure.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We are not financial professionals. The authors and/or site operators may hold positions in the companies or assets mentioned. Always do your own research before making financial decisions.
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