Starship Flight 15: The Double-Catch Test and Key Milestones | Updated Nov. 13

Verified and updated: Nov. 13, 2026, 9:04 p.m. UTC (3:04 p.m. CST, Starbase, Texas). SpaceX’s Flight 15 is scheduled for a 75-minute launch window beginning at 4:45 p.m. CST (10:45 p.m. UTC) from Starbase, Texas. The FAA has approved the flight, according to the Associated Press. The mission’s standout objective is an attempted return of both Starship and its Super Heavy booster to the launch site for capture by the tower’s mechanical arms. At this update time, the launch window has not opened, so no flight or recovery outcome is confirmed. The Associated Press reported the approval and planned milestones.

Flight 15 is designed to test a complete chain of operations: launch, stage separation, orbital flight and payload deployment, followed by two distinct returns. Understanding those steps helps separate the mission’s planned achievements from what the flight will actually demonstrate if each milestone succeeds.

Destaques

• The launch window is scheduled to open Nov. 13 at 4:45 p.m. CST (10:45 p.m. UTC) in Starbase, Texas.
• SpaceX plans to deploy 26 Starlink satellites during the flight.
• The mission is intended to last more than 22 hours, with the ship’s return planned for Saturday.
• The booster and ship are each expected to attempt a tower catch; both outcomes remain unconfirmed before launch.

What is Starship Flight 15 testing?

Starship is a two-stage launch system. The Super Heavy booster is the first stage, built to lift the upper Starship vehicle through the dense lower atmosphere. After separation, the ship continues on its planned trajectory. Flight 15 is a test flight, so its value comes from gathering performance data across the whole mission rather than simply reaching one destination.

SpaceX’s mission plan calls for the ship to reach an orbit about 275 kilometers (roughly 170 miles) above Earth, complete multiple circuits and deploy 26 Starlink satellites. The Associated Press describes a plan for approximately 15 laps and a flight of about 22 hours. These are planned milestones; the company can adjust a mission in response to vehicle performance or safety conditions. SpaceX lists the flight on its Starship Flight 15 mission page.

What are the key Flight 15 milestones?

1. Liftoff and stage separation

During ascent, the booster must provide thrust and control long enough for the upper ship to separate. Separation is an early major checkpoint: it confirms that both stages have progressed through a coordinated part of the flight. It does not by itself prove that either stage can return safely.

2. Booster return and attempted catch

After separation, Super Heavy is expected to turn back toward Starbase and descend for a potential catch by the launch tower’s arms, often called chopsticks. The booster’s trajectory, engine performance and final approach all matter. A successful capture would be a significant recovery demonstration, but it would still need inspection and follow-up work before anyone could conclude how quickly or reliably the booster can fly again.

3. Orbital operations and satellite deployment

The upper stage is expected to continue around Earth and release 26 Starlink satellites. A deployment would test payload operations in addition to propulsion and guidance. Reaching the planned orbit, releasing satellites and keeping the vehicle on a controlled trajectory are separate pieces of evidence, and each should be assessed on its own.

4. Ship reentry and attempted tower catch

After its planned orbital portion, Starship is expected to return toward Starbase for an attempted catch on Saturday. Reentry subjects the vehicle to intense heating and aerodynamic forces; the vehicle must also steer accurately and arrive at the tower under controlled conditions. SpaceX has previously caught Super Heavy boosters, but Flight 15 is described as the first attempt to catch the ship. The two recoveries are separate milestones: success with one would not establish success with the other.

Why does a double catch matter?

Recovering both stages at the launch site is part of SpaceX’s effort to make Starship reusable. If demonstrated and refined, rapid recovery could reduce the time and resources needed to prepare vehicles for later missions. That possibility is relevant to plans for frequent launches, satellite delivery and future lunar missions, but one test cannot prove routine reuse or a particular launch cadence. Reuse depends on inspection, repairs, operational safety and performance over repeated flights.

The mission also follows a different test history for the two stages. The Associated Press reports that SpaceX has made three booster catches, while previous Starship upper stages ended in planned ocean splashdowns or were lost during flight. Flight 15 therefore combines a more familiar booster recovery approach with a first-of-its-kind ship catch attempt. The outcome will show how the hardware and procedures perform in this particular flight; later flights would still be needed to establish repeatability.

What should viewers watch for next?

For readers following the flight, the clearest evidence will be milestone-by-milestone confirmation: liftoff, separation, satellite deployment, booster return and ship return. A target time or mission graphic describes intent, not a completed event. Since the planned flight spans more than 22 hours, the ship’s return is expected on Saturday, Nov. 14, if the timeline holds. The exact local return time can change with mission operations, and no return should be treated as confirmed until SpaceX or a reliable report verifies it.

At the time of this update, the confirmed news is that the FAA approved the flight and the mission is planned to attempt both catches. Whether those attempts succeed—and what the data reveals about vehicle performance—remains to be seen.

Frequently asked questions

When is Starship Flight 15 scheduled to launch?

The launch window is scheduled to open Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, at 4:45 p.m. CST (10:45 p.m. UTC) in Starbase, Texas.

What is the main goal of Flight 15?

Among its objectives are an orbital flight, deployment of 26 Starlink satellites and attempted tower catches of both the Super Heavy booster and Starship.

Has either stage been caught on Flight 15?

No outcome was confirmed at the 9:04 p.m. UTC update. The planned launch window had not yet opened.