SpaceX targets Nov. 13 for Starship Flight 15 double landing test

SpaceX has set Nov. 13, 2026, as the target date for Starship Flight 15, aiming for liftoff at 5:45 p.m. EST (2245 GMT) or later from Starbase in South Texas. The 75-minute window runs to 7 p.m. EST (0000 GMT Nov. 14), covering 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. in local CST. Should the mission succeed, both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage would return to Earth for landings at the launch pad one after another, marking the first full recovery of an entire orbital rocket.

This will be the fifteenth test flight of the massive stainless-steel reusable vehicle SpaceX describes as the largest launch vehicle ever built. SpaceX describes this as its most ambitious Starship test yet, since the goal is to recover both stages for the first time.

The Super Heavy first-stage booster, known as Booster 22, should touch down about 6.5 minutes after liftoff. Saturday, Nov. 14, would see the Ship upper stage land at Starbase at 4:17 p.m. EST (2117 GMT) after a 5:45 p.m. EST liftoff, or at 5:32 p.m. EST (2232 GMT) after a 7 p.m. EST liftoff. The full flight should last just over 22.5 hours, circle Earth 14 times, and reach an altitude near 275 km.

SpaceX plans to deploy 26 Starlink V3 internet satellites within the first 90 minutes after liftoff. The company says the vehicle supports Starlink internet satellite deployments, NASA Artemis moon landings planned for 2028, and crewed flights to Mars in the future. Meeting those goals hinges on first proving rapid reusability by recovering both stages.

A return to the launch site will occur only after the flight control team confirms that systems for reentry maneuvers, the final landing burn, and the tower approach are healthy, SpaceX says. If the systems are not healthy, the vehicle can instead follow a passively safe suborbital path or deorbit at set ocean zones. Early flight termination leaves three splashdown zones for the Ship upper stage: the Pacific off Hawaii in early or late stages, a mid-mission window off Chile, and a late-mission Gulf of Mexico area that also serves as a wave-off for Booster 22.

SpaceX’s first orbital Starship test, Flight 14 on Sept. 28, was expected to last nearly 10 hours and circle Earth six times, but the company ended it after three hours and two orbits as a safety precaution. That earlier outcome indicates Flight 15 could also be stopped early if problems come up. SpaceX has not formally announced backup launch days for Flight 15, though past missions suggest the company likely has at least one or two additional opportunities, with any retry depending on the reason for the delay.

The schedule may change, and the company expects a live webcast about 30 minutes before liftoff, SpaceX says. With regulatory approval still pending, the launch window opens at 4:45 p.m. CST and closes at 6 p.m., covering 75 minutes. Alerts about beach and highway closures at Boca Chica can point to available flight windows if the launch slips.

A late-window liftoff might create a space jellyfish over south Louisiana when high-altitude rocket exhaust stays lit by sunlight after sunset, forming a glowing jellyfish-shaped cloud. Sunset in Baton Rouge is set for about 5:08 p.m. on Nov. 13, and projections suggest a liftoff before 5:30 p.m. probably cannot be seen from there. Spotters will need a clear view to the south for any chance of seeing the vehicle, and clouds are not expected to be a major problem. People saw the phenomenon along the coast at places such as Grand Isle during an earlier SpaceX launch.

SpaceX does not offer an official launch viewing site. Spectators must instead rely on public beaches, highway shoulders, or private campgrounds. One public viewing spot is the Cameron County Amphitheater at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the launch site, with a clear view across the bay, nearby bathrooms, and possible heavy bridge traffic from Port Isabel. Roadside viewing is possible along Highway 48 between Port Isabel and Brownsville, Texas, from 6 to 8 miles (10 to 13 kilometers) away, with free pull-offs and wetland views reported by SpaceLaunchSchedule.com and no bathrooms on site, though viewers should use caution because it is just the side of a highway.

A public beach called Playa Bagdad on the Mexican side of the border reportedly offers a head-on view of the launch tower with a festive vibe, according to SpaceLaunchSchedule.com. Rocket Ranch is 3.8 miles (6.1 kilometers) from Starbase and costs $200 per ticket, with children under 17 priced at $40; it allows a one-day, one-night camping stay and provides bus transport to a viewing site for a single launch attempt.

Space.com and SpaceX will begin livestreams at 5:15 p.m. EST (2215 GMT), about 30 minutes before liftoff. NASASpaceflight also plans to stream a launch webcast beginning Nov. 13 at 11:45 a.m. EDT (1645 GMT), roughly six hours before liftoff. NASASpaceflight provides live pad views around the clock and will stream Starship Flight 15 rocket stacking on Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT). The NASASpaceflight YouTube channel provides continuous remote-camera views of the Starbase launch site before launch.