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Elon Musk
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SpaceX targets November for first catch of both Starship stages
SpaceX plans to attempt catching both Starship stages on Flight 15, a step toward full recovery after reaching orbit for the first time last month. Elon Musk outlined the plan during the October 20 earnings call. No launch date has been announced, though it is expected in November. SpaceX expects its FAA licence to authorize both vehicles to return for tower catches. So far SpaceX has caught the Super Heavy booster three times, starting with Flight 5 in October 2024, but it has never attempted to catch the upper stage.…
- Flight 15 would attempt to catch both stages; no official date, expected in November.
- Musk puts success odds above 50%, but admits another attempt could be needed.
🔎 Why it matters: Starship's upper stage has never been caught at the tower, unlike the Super Heavy booster, which SpaceX has recovered three times. Flight 15 would be the first test of that manoeuvre with a vehicle returning from orbit.
📈 Upside: Recovering both stages would bring SpaceX closer to reusing the entire rocket, something Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy do not do with their upper stages.
📉 Risk: The upper stage catch has not yet been attempted, Musk admits another attempt could be needed, and the FAA authorization is still expected.
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