Science & Tech · Space · 10 hrs ago
SpaceX targets November for Starship Flight 15 and two-stage recovery attempt
SpaceX is targeting November 2026 for Starship Flight 15, but has not announced an official launch date.
The test is being prepared at Starbase in South Texas, where the company is checking the vehicles assigned to the mission.
The mission could try to recover both rocket stages by guiding them back to the launch tower, where mechanical arms would attempt to catch them.
Flight 14 reached orbit in September and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, though an engine shutdown shortened its planned mission.
Catching both stages would advance SpaceX’s goal of making Starship reusable, but would not show that the vehicles can be quickly refurbished and flown again.
The launch timing depends on testing, vehicle readiness and regulatory approval, and SpaceX has said it expects its license to cover the planned return and catches.
The results would help guide later tests, as SpaceX works toward a lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis campaign and plans a future test of in-space propellant transfer.
SpaceX is targeting November 2026 for Starship’s 15th integrated flight test.
The mission is expected to attempt catches of both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage at the launch tower.
As of October 28, SpaceX had not announced an official launch date, which depends on testing, vehicle readiness and regulatory approval.
The assigned vehicles are Super Heavy Booster 22 and Starship Ship 42.
The test follows Flight 14, which reached orbit and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites on September 28.
- Who
- SpaceX, which is preparing the Starship rocket and its Super Heavy booster for the flight.
- What
- Flight 15 is expected to attempt recovering both rocket stages at the launch tower.
- When
- SpaceX is targeting November 2026; no official launch date had been announced as of October 28.
- Where
- Starbase in South Texas.
- Why
- To demonstrate recovery of both stages and advance SpaceX’s reusability goals.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Flight 14 reached orbit and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites.
SpaceX conducted a full-duration static-fire test of Super Heavy Booster 22, igniting all 33 Raptor engines for about 15 seconds.
SpaceX had not announced an official launch date for Flight 15.
SpaceX is targeting this month for the Flight 15 launch.
- Target launch
- November 2026
- Flight number
- 15th integrated flight test
- Booster
- Super Heavy Booster 22
- Upper stage
- Starship Ship 42
- Booster engine test
- 33 Raptor engines fired for about 15 seconds
- Previous flight
- Flight 14 deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites
What people are saying
the company expected its license for Flight 15 to cover return-to-launch-site operations and tower catches for both stages