SpaceX targets November 13 launch for first two-stage Starship catch
Flight 15 would include SpaceX's first attempt to catch the Ship upper stage, with the mission also aiming to deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites.
SpaceX plans to attempt recovery of Starship's two stages during Flight 15, targeting a November 13 launch subject to regulatory approval and suitable weather. The company has scheduled a 75-minute window beginning at 5:45PM Eastern time.
The mission plan calls for the launch tower's catching arms to retrieve the Super Heavy booster minutes after liftoff, then catch the Ship upper stage a day later. SpaceX said the Ship catch would proceed only if the vehicle can deorbit at one of several predetermined areas and conditions are optimal. The company has caught Super Heavy three times but has not previously attempted to catch Ship, which travels higher and faster.
SpaceX aims for Ship to circle Earth around 14 times, with the flight expected to exceed 22 hours before deorbiting. Deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites is also among the mission's primary objectives.
Starship first reached orbit on its 14th test mission, but that flight was shortened. Ship remained in orbit for around two hours rather than the planned 10 hours. The proposed recovery of both stages is part of SpaceX's goal of making Starship fully reusable.
