SpaceX is set to test Starship's 15th flight, aiming to catch both rocket stages with its tower for the first time.
SpaceX prepares for Starship test flight
SpaceX is preparing for the 15th test flight of its Starship rocket, potentially as early as November 8. The company has about two weeks to complete all preparations, including final checks and tests.Engine tests underway
As of now, SpaceX is conducting engine checks, including a first static ignition. The company shared two videos of these tests on October 25 via a tweet on X, showing the progress of the preparations.Incomplete Starship rocket
The Starship rocket is still incomplete at this stage, as its upper segment, referred to as the Ship, is missing. Despite this, SpaceX activated the propulsion system of the Super Heavy at Starbase, its test center in Texas.Static ignition test
The static ignition aims to run the engines through the entire planned sequence while the rocket remains firmly anchored to the ground. In this case, SpaceX activated the 33 Raptor engines of the booster, one of the last major checks before the flight.New attempt to catch the Ship
This flight is being closely monitored for a specific reason: on October 20, during the presentation of SpaceX's quarterly results, Elon Musk confirmed that the company would attempt to catch both stages with the launch tower's arms.Tower has caught boosters before
The tower has been catching boosters since October 2024. However, it has never caught the vessel, the upper stage. During the 14th flight, on September 28, the Super Heavy had indeed finished its flight in the sea, in the Gulf of Mexico.Successful maneuver could be unprecedented
Elon Musk estimates that success is more likely than failure, according to Space.com. If it works, it would be unprecedented for the company and encouraging for the future.
