STARBASE, TEXAS: SpaceX plans to catch both stages of its Starship rocket during Flight 15, targeting a Friday launch followed by the upper spacecraft’s return more than 22 hours later.
The 75-minute launch window opens at 4:45 pm Central Standard Time on Friday, equivalent to 3:45 am PKT on Saturday. SpaceX says the schedule remains subject to regulatory approval and could change.
Launch-tower arms, commonly called chopsticks, would catch the Super Heavy booster first. The upper-stage spacecraft would continue into orbit before attempting its own return to Starbase.
SpaceX has previously caught three earlier-generation boosters, but it has never caught the Starship upper stage. This mission also marks the first planned attempt to catch a Super Heavy V3 booster.
If both recoveries succeed, SpaceX says the mission would achieve the “first full recovery of an orbital launch system”.
The flight plan calls for Starship to reach an altitude of approximately 275 kilometres and complete about 14 orbits. It would deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites before returning towards Texas.
However, the upper stage will attempt a tower catch only if controllers confirm that essential systems remain healthy. Those checks cover atmospheric re-entry, the final landing burn and the approach to the tower.
SpaceX has built ocean-return options into the mission plan if the spacecraft cannot safely attempt the catch.
Three satellites carry cameras intended to inspect Starship’s heat shield and transmit images to operators. SpaceX plans to use those observations alongside other flight data when assessing the vehicle’s readiness to return.
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Recovering both stages supports the company’s goal of rapid reuse. SpaceX argues that bringing them directly back to the launch site could shorten the preparation needed between flights.
Separately, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is developing lunar landing capabilities with SpaceX and Blue Origin for a targeted 2028 return to the Moon. NASA says it will select the first landing provider according to readiness.
SpaceX plans to begin its webcast approximately 30 minutes before liftoff and continue coverage through the attempted spacecraft catch.
