SpaceX moves Starship Flight 15 booster to launch pad for 'squeeze test' ahead of epic double-catch attempt (photos)

space.com Nov 11, 2026

SpaceX moves Starship Flight 15 booster to launch pad for ‘squeeze test’ ahead of epic double-catch attempt (photos)

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Nov 11, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

SpaceX announced on Nov. 10 that its Starship Super Heavy booster 22 has been rolled out to the launch mount at Starbase in preparation for Flight 15 on Nov. 13. The test will attempt the recovery of both the booster and the upper stage, using the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms to catch each vehicle after flight. Booster 22, powered by 33 Raptor engines, will undergo a “squeeze test” at catch height before launch, while the Ship upper stage will aim to complete a 26‑satellite Starlink V3 deployment and 14 Earth orbits before returning for a second catch roughly 22 hours later. Successful double‑catch would mark the inaugural full orbital‑rocket recovery and pave the way for SpaceX’s goal of thousands of Starship flights per year.

💡 Why It Matters

· A successful double‑catch would prove SpaceX’s reusable‑rocket vision, enabling rapid turnaround and the launch cadence needed for its massive Starlink V3 constellation and future deep‑space missions.

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space.com · Nov 10

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