GoKawiilSpaceX targets Starship tower catch for both stages on Flight 15
SpaceX executives said on an earnings call that the company plans to attempt catching both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage at the Starbase tower during the rocket's 15th test flight, targeted for November. Elon Musk said data from Flight 14 gives SpaceX confidence to try the dual catch, while president Gwynne Shotwell said the FAA license is expected to permit return-to-launch-site landings over land, including northern Mexico.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
A successful dual catch would mark a major step toward rapid, low-cost reuse of Starship, which SpaceX increasingly frames as critical infrastructure for both Starlink and its planned orbital data-center ambitions rather than purely for exploration. Musk's comment that SpaceX is 'hardware rich' suggests the company is prepared to accept failures as part of an iterative testing approach, which could shape how quickly it reaches its stated cadence goals.
- SpaceX plans to attempt catching both Starship stages on its 15th test flight, targeted for November.
- The company says it expects FAA approval for return-to-launch-site landings over land, including Mexico.
- SpaceX's public focus has shifted toward using Starship to support massive AI compute and data ambitions.
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-10-21
Published there as: “SpaceX to attempt Starship catch on next flight, with eye on rapid cadence increase”
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