Particle.news
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
11 ARTICLES
·
6h ago

SpaceX Readies Starship Flight 15 for First Attempt to Catch Both Stages

A successful double catch would demonstrate full orbital-rocket reuse, reduce marginal launch costs, speed Starlink capacity growth, bolster NASA lunar planning

SpaceX's next-generation Starship launched atop the new Super Heavy V3 booster from Starbase in Texas for its first orbital mission on September 28.
The Falcon 9 booster lands after launching the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying the NASA Crew 13 mission, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on October 1.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by SpaceX/UPI/Shutterstock (17182801c) SpaceX's next-generation Starship successfully launched atop the new Super Heavy V3 booster, from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Monday, September 28, 2026. Starship completed its first orbital mission where it delivered Starlink V3 satellites to space for the first time. SpaceX Successfully Launches Fourteenth Flight Test of Starship, Inserting It Into Orbit, Boca Chica, Texas, United States - 02 Oct 2026
SpaceX's Super Heavy rocket booster moves to the launchpad at Starbase, Texas, on November 10 ahead of Flight 15.

Overview

  • Starship Flight 15 is on track to launch from SpaceX’s Starbase in South Texas on Nov. 13 with a 75-minute window opening at 5:45 p.m. EDT, and Booster 22 has been moved to the pad and completed final catch tests.
  • SpaceX plans to attempt recovery of both the Super Heavy first-stage booster and the Ship upper stage on the same flight, a feat the company has not yet achieved with this vehicle version.
  • The Ship upper stage will deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites and is scheduled to circle Earth roughly 14 times in a mission lasting more than 22 hours before a possible return and catch the next day.
  • SpaceX will decide whether to attempt the higher-risk Ship catch after post-launch vehicle health checks and will proceed only if telemetry, imagery, weather, and regulatory clearances indicate it is safe to do so.
  • Engineers say the mission tests critical systems for rapid reuse—especially the heat shield and quick inspection and repair processes—and success could lower launch costs, expand Starlink service, and strengthen NASA’s plans to use Starship for Artemis missions.