{
  "id": 19163440,
  "title": "SpaceX will launch epic double-catch Starship Flight 15 test mission on Nov. 13",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/spacex-will-launch-epic-double-catch-starship-flight-15-test-mission",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-09T14:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Space.com",
    "slug": "space-com",
    "url": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-will-launch-epic-double-catch-starship-flight-15-test-mission-on-nov-13"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "SpaceX aims to make history with its 15th Starship test flight, set for November 13. Dubbed Flight 15, this mission will attempt the unprecedented feat of returning both the Starship and its Super Heavy booster to the launch site. In a statement, SpaceX emphasized that this would be the first full recovery of an orbital launch system, marking a significant step towards making Starship a reliable, rapidly reusable rocket.\n\nSuper Heavy, Starship's massive booster, and Starship itself share a common goal of full reusability. While Super Heavy has been successfully caught three times during Starship flights, the attempt with Starship has never been tried before. The complexity of Starship's higher and farther trajectory makes its return more challenging.\n\nElon Musk had previously announced that Flight 15 would likely include a double-catch scenario. The launch is scheduled for Friday, with a 75-minute window opening at 5:45 p.m. EST, or 4:45 p.m. local Texas time. If all goes according to plan, Super Heavy will return to Starbase about 6.5 minutes after liftoff. However, Starship will go orbital, a first for Starship, and deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites.\n\nStarship is expected to orbit at an altitude of approximately 275 km and complete about 14 orbits over a 22-hour flight. While a return to Starbase is not guaranteed, the mission promises a spectacle of engineering prowess and space exploration.",
  "summary": "SpaceX's next Starship test flight will take place on Friday (Nov. 13), and it will be epic: The company will try to catch both of the vehicle's stages when they return to Earth.",
  "key_points": [
    "SpaceX plans to launch Starship Flight 15 on Nov. 13.",
    "Mission aims to return both Starship and Super Heavy to launch site.",
    "Starship will orbit at 275 km, deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}