SpaceX will attempt 1st-ever double Starship rocket catch on next test launch, Elon Musk says

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1. 2h ago

   SpaceX Plans First-Ever Double Starship Catch on Flight 15

   SpaceX plans to attempt its first-ever double rocket catch during the upcoming Flight 15 test launch, seeking to simultaneously recover both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage using launch tower arms at Starbase. Founder and CEO Elon Musk highlighted the test as a profound technological milestone that could mark the first complete recovery of an orbital launch vehicle. Target windows for the flight point to November, while the company also targets reaching weekly Starship launches by early 2027.

   Why it matters

   The upcoming test builds on previous individual recovery efforts by attempting to catch both parts of the massive megarocket in mid-air. Achieving full and rapid reusability is central to the company's long-term economic viability and interplanetary exploration goals. The ambitious cadence expansion relies heavily on regulatory licensing and continued engagement with the Federal Aviation Administration.

   What is confirmed

   • SpaceX will attempt a first-ever double Starship rocket catch on its next test flight, designated as Flight 15.
   • The test flight will target both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage for recovery using Mechazilla arms at Starbase.
   • Elon Musk announced the dual-catch plan, describing it as a profound technological milestone and the potential first full recovery of an orbital launch vehicle.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The Flight 15 test launch is targeted to take place in November 2026.

   What to watch next

   • Federal Aviation Administration regulatory licensing decisions for Flight 15
   • The actual execution of the Flight 15 double-catch test attempt
   Sources used for this update (20)

   1. mynews13.com — SpaceX successfully launches NASA's Crew-13 mission to the ISS
   2. Space — SpaceX will attempt 1st-ever double Starship rocket catch on next test launch, Elon Musk says
   3. Moomoo — Morgan Stanley: SpaceX's (SPCX.US) Q3 earnings are merely an "appetizer"; the 15th Starship flight and the "physical intelligence economy" are the true catalysts for the stock price.
   4. The Verge — SpaceX will try catching Starship and its booster for first time, Musk says
   5. MarketWatch — Starships were meant to fly. SpaceX investors want to know when.
   6. Teslarati — SpaceX showcases exactly how it plans to catch Starship next month
   7. Quartz — SpaceX plans to catch both Starship stages on next test flight
   8. SpaceNews — SpaceX plans Starship upper stage catch on next launch
   9. www.space.com — SpaceX will attempt 1st-ever double Starship rocket catch on ...
   10. arstechnica.com — SpaceX to attempt Starship catch on next flight, with eye on rapid cadence increase
   11. www.dazzr.com — SpaceX will attempt 1st-ever double Starship rocket catch on ...
   12. aviationweek.com — SpaceX To Attempt Starship, Super Heavy Landings On Next ...
   confidence 95%