SpaceX targets mid-November for 15th Starship test flight

SpaceX is preparing for its 15th integrated flight test of the Starship system, scheduled for mid-November, marking another step forward in the development of the company's fully reusable super-heavy lift launch vehicle.

The test flight will focus on executing a complex recovery operation at the launch site in Texas. If successful, the mission would achieve a first for the programme—catching both the Super Heavy first-stage booster and the upper-stage Starship vehicle using the launch tower's mechanical arms, known as "chopstick" arms.

Previous test flights have progressively demonstrated increasingly sophisticated recovery techniques. The Starship programme has seen steady advancement since its inaugural integrated flight test in April 2023, with each subsequent mission building upon lessons learned and pushing the boundaries of what the reusable system can accomplish.

The mid-November timeframe remains subject to regulatory approvals and weather conditions. SpaceX continues to refine its launch and recovery procedures as it works toward the eventual goal of conducting routine crewed missions and deep-space exploration with the Starship system.

The company has not disclosed additional details regarding specific test objectives or modifications planned for the 15th flight test at this stage.