SpaceX plans Starship flight with two recovery attempts

SpaceX planned to launch Starship’s 15th test flight from Starbase in South Texas on November 13, aiming to recover both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship spacecraft at the launch site. The planned mission includes the first attempt to catch Ship, the upper stage, using mechanical arms on a launch tower. The launch and both recovery attempts remained conditional, and the flight’s outcome had not been established in reports published before the planned launch.

The 75-minute launch window was scheduled to open at 4:45 p.m. Central Time. SpaceX said the booster would attempt to return to the launch site shortly after liftoff. Ship was expected to complete about 14 orbits and spend roughly 21 to 22 hours in flight before a possible return on November 14.

SpaceX has previously caught Super Heavy boosters at the launch tower three times. Flight 15 would be the first attempt to catch a Ship spacecraft, which would return from orbit at higher speed and altitude than the booster. A successful recovery could allow the company to assess the vehicle for refurbishment and eventual reuse, but would not by itself demonstrate that it could fly again.

SpaceX said Ship would be allowed to...