SpaceX to Attempt Double Catch of Starship Booster and Ship

SpaceX is preparing to launch Starship Flight 15 from Starbase, Texas, with a launch window opening at 4:45 p.m. CST on Friday, November 13, 2026. The company plans to attempt to catch both the booster and the ship at the launch pad, something it has not accomplished before.

Flight plan

SpaceX’s flight plan calls for Super Heavy Booster 22 to return to pad 2 at Starbase about 6.5 minutes after launching from there. It will be caught by the launch tower’s robotic arms, known as the “chopsticks.” If all goes according to plan, it will mark the first time a Version 3 Super Heavy Booster has returned to the pad. Three previous boosters were caught by the launch pad tower.

If Ship 42 successfully reaches orbit and SpaceX mission control deems it healthy, it will remain in space for up to 14 orbits of the planet, before making its own return to the launch site, 22.5 hours after launch or at around 3:17 p.m. CST.

The company said that about six minutes after launch, they’ll attempt to catch the booster. As for the ship, the company is sending it into orbit for nearly 24 hours. Once it’s circling the globe, the company says Starship will then deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, adding capacity to SpaceX’s orbital communications network.

SpaceX has options to end the mission early with splashdowns off Hawaii and Chile if there is any doubt about the safety of a landing attempt at Starbase, which will take the craft over Mexico and South Texas.

Reusability

If both stages return successfully, it would be the first full recovery of an orbital launch system. SpaceX said on its website that would be “a breakthrough moment in making Starship a reliable, rapidly reusable rocket.” SpaceX says a reusable rocket would greatly reduce the cost of space travel.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told the audience at the X Takeover 2025 event that’s how it goes for rocket launches.

“If every time you drove somewhere you had to throw away the car, you'd be 'Wow, that's a crazy car where you have to throw away after every time you drive it.' But that's how it works for rockets,” Musk told the crowd.

The company said that catching both stages won’t happen at the same time.

Why it matters

A successful double catch would demonstrate that Starship is fully reusable by recovering both its first and second stages. SpaceX says reusability could greatly reduce the cost of space travel.

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Sources

• abc11.com: SpaceX looks to make history with its Starship 15 launch in South Texas - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham
• spaceflightnow.com: Live Coverage: Starship Flight 15 attempts to recover full vehicle in double launch pad catch — Spaceflight Now

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.