❯ SpaceX targets November 13 for Starship Flight 15 and first mission to catch both stages

Aiming for both stagesSpaceX is targeting Starship Flight 15 no earlier than November 13 at 4:45 p.m. US Central Time, or November 14 at 6:45 a.m. Beijing time, subject to approval and launch readiness. The mission plans to return both Starship and Super Heavy to the launch site for tower-arm catches on the same flight.

Returning after orbital workThe mission plans to deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites and fly roughly 14 orbits at about 275 kilometers altitude over more than 22 hours. The booster returns shortly after launch, while the ship reenters and approaches the tower after its orbital mission. This would also be the first return-and-catch attempt for the V3 Super Heavy booster.

Health checks govern the returnControllers must confirm that systems needed for reentry, the landing burn and tower approach are healthy before proceeding with a ship return to Starbase. Three satellites will carry cameras to inspect the ship’s heatshield and inform that decision. Earlier flights caught previous-generation boosters, while this mission tests the additional chain from orbital work to ship recovery. The schedule remains subject to readiness changes.

▮ SIGNALReturning the ship safely after orbital work is central to advancing whole-system reuse and reducing the cost of each transport mission.