SpaceX aims to launch Starship Flight 15 on November 13, pending regulatory approval and favorable weather. The 75-minute launch window opens at 5:45PM Eastern. This mission marks the first attempt to retrieve both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage.
Previously, SpaceX successfully caught the booster three times, but Ship has never been attempted due to its higher and faster trajectory. Starship achieved its first orbital flight during Flight 14, though the trip was cut short, with Ship spending only two hours in orbit instead of the planned 10. Flight 15 targets a duration of over 22 hours, allowing 14 planetary orbits.
The mission will also deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites. In a recent earnings call, Elon Musk demonstrated the catch procedure using the launch tower's "chopstick arms." The Super Heavy will be caught shortly after launch, while the Ship stage will be captured a day later, contingent on optimal deorbit conditions. Success would represent a major step toward full reusability.
The event can be watched on SpaceX's X account.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing