SpaceX Starship Flight 15: How the 22-hour mission and double tower catch will work

SpaceX is preparing for Starship Flight 15, targeted for November 13 pending regulatory approval, with an ambitious plan to bring both rocket stages back to Starbase for a catch by the launch tower. The approximately 22-hour mission will see Starship deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites and complete around 14 orbits before attempting its first return to the launch site. During its orbital coast, flight controllers will continuously monitor the spacecraft’s critical systems before deciding whether it is safe to attempt reentry. Meanwhile, new aviation warnings have revealed contingency reentry areas in the Indian Ocean and Pacific near Chile. SpaceX has also outlined alternative splashdown options if the spacecraft cannot safely return. The mission will test Starship’s ability to survive atmospheric reentry, navigate over northern Mexico and southern Texas, and perform a precise landing manoeuvre between the launch tower’s mechanical arms. Video credit: SpaceX, Starlink, NGA NAVWARNING, FAA NOTAM