By Islam El-Sakka
SpaceX is preparing for its most ambitious Starship test flight yet, scheduled for November 13, aiming to catch both the Starship upper stage and its Super Heavy booster using the launch tower’s “chopstick” mechanism at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
Flight 15 Marks Key Milestone
The upcoming mission, designated Starship Flight 15, will be the first attempt to recover both stages of the fully reusable rocket system. SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev disclosed the target date during the UP Summit at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to Ars Technica’s Eric Berger.
Musk Calls Launch ‘Profound Technology Milestone’
Elon Musk described the flight as a “profound technology milestone” in rocket science and space exploration, emphasizing that reusability is central to his Moon and Mars ambitions. While acknowledging that success is not guaranteed, Musk said in October that success is more likely than not, with a steady stream of test flights planned through the end of the year and accelerating in 2027.
NASA Artemis Timeline Depends on Starship Progress
NASA is counting on Starship to become fully operational ahead of the Artemis III mission, currently targeting a launch no earlier than June 2027. That mission would see an uncrewed Starship dock with the Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts. NASA hopes to use Starship for lunar surface landings during Artemis IV in 2028, though questions remain about the spacecraft’s readiness.
Refueling Missions Debate Continues
Recent estimates from NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel suggested SpaceX would need 22 in-orbit refueling missions to send Starship to the Moon. Musk countered on X that the actual number would be closer to six to eight, a figure that could be tested during Flight 15 as part of an in-orbit propellant transfer demonstration. SpaceX has not yet released an official flight plan, though launches are typically live-streamed on the company’s website.
