Science & Tech · Space · 3 hrs ago
SpaceX plans first Starship double-catch attempt on Nov. 13
SpaceX plans to launch Starship’s 15th test flight from south Texas on Nov.
13.
The rocket has two parts: Super Heavy, the booster, and Ship, the upper-stage spacecraft, and both are designed to be reused.
SpaceX has caught Super Heavy at the launch tower on three flights, but has never attempted to catch Ship.
The mission will try to bring both parts back to the launch site, where the tower’s arms are designed to catch them.
Ship is expected to spend more than 22 hours in orbit and deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, but the catch is not guaranteed.
SpaceX will cancel the Ship catch if anything is amiss and plans safe ocean landing options; the launch is scheduled for a 75-minute window starting at 5:45 p.m.
EST.
SpaceX is targeting Nov. 13 for Starship’s 15th test flight, which is planned to attempt the first return of both rocket stages to the launch site for a catch.
The test is scheduled to launch from Starbase in South Texas during a 75-minute window opening at 5:45 p.m. EST.
Super Heavy is expected to return for a tower catch about 6.5 minutes after liftoff.
Starship is planned to orbit Earth at about 275 kilometres and complete approximately 14 orbits during a flight lasting more than 22 hours.
SpaceX may cancel Starship’s catch attempt if conditions are not right.
- Who
- SpaceX. The flight will use the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster.
- What
- The 15th Starship test flight is planned to attempt returning both stages to Starbase for a catch.
- When
- Nov. 13, during a 75-minute launch window opening at 5:45 p.m. EST.
- Where
- The flight will launch from Starbase in South Texas. Both stages are planned to return to the launch site for a catch.
- Why
- SpaceX says a successful double catch would be a breakthrough toward making Starship a reliable, rapidly reusable rocket.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Starship’s 14th test flight reached orbit for the first time, according to Space.com.
SpaceX is targeting this date for Flight 15, with a launch window scheduled to open at 5:45 p.m. EST.
Super Heavy is expected to return to Starbase for a tower catch.
Starship is planned to complete approximately 14 orbits at an altitude of about 275 kilometres.
- Flight
- 15th Starship test flight
- Target launch date
- Nov. 13
- Launch window
- 75 minutes, opening at 5:45 p.m. EST
- Launch site
- Starbase, South Texas
- Planned orbit
- About 275 km; approximately 14 orbits
- Planned flight duration
- More than 22 hours
What people are saying
The upcoming flight is planned to be the first to return both Starship and Super Heavy to the launch site for catch
If successful, this will mark the first full recovery of an orbital launch system and a breakthrough moment in making Starship a reliable, rapidly reusable rocket