SpaceX to Attempt First Dual-Stage Catch During Starship Flight 15
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is scheduled to attempt a historic recovery mission on Friday, November 13, involving the simultaneous catching of both its Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage using launch tower arms in Texas. While SpaceX has successfully caught boosters previously, it has never successfully recovered the Starship upper stage, which returns from orbit at much higher speeds. The success of this mission is viewed as a critical milestone for achieving full rocket reusability, which would significantly lower launch costs and accelerate the deployment of Starlink V3 satellites. Analysts, including those from Morgan Stanley, suggest that a successful catch could serve as a major positive catalyst for the company's valuation, though technical risks remain high following previous engine issues and landing difficulties.