SpaceX showcases exactly how it plans to catch Starship next month

SpaceX showed an animation of its plan to catch the Starship upper stage with the launch tower during its third quarter earnings webcast, confirming Flight 15 next month will attempt to catch both the Super Heavy booster and the ship. According to Teslarati, Musk called the catch the step that closes Starship's reuse loop and put the odds of first-attempt success at more likely than not.

The company has caught Super Heavy three times but never recovered the ship from orbit. Ship 42, assigned to Flight 15, underwent a simulated catch test in September. Shotwell said the FAA license is expected to authorize return to launch site and tower catch for both stages. Flight 14 reached orbit and deployed satellites in September, counted as the first revenue flight.

Musk said Flight 15 would likely launch before Thanksgiving and Flight 16 could refly both stages, with weekly flights targeted for the first half of 2027. Separately, Tesla and SpaceX formed special committees to study a merger at shareholder request. Musk supports the idea but said committees have not agreed on terms and any deal would need shareholder approval. SpaceX reported Q3 revenue of $14.58 billion.

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SpaceX showcases exactly how it plans to catch Starship next month — Teslarati