SpaceX has scheduled the 15th test flight of the Starship system for November 13. The mission will utilize the Super Heavy B22 booster and the Ship 42 spacecraft, as announced by Kiko Dontchev, vice president of launch at SpaceX, during the UP.Summit event.
The Super Heavy B22 booster has successfully completed static fire tests of its 33 Raptor 3 engines. Meanwhile, the Ship 42 spacecraft underwent testing of its six engines, along with a specific test of a single engine designed to simulate the braking impulse required for atmospheric reentry.
The primary objective of this mission is to attempt the simultaneous recovery of both stages at the Starbase launch site in Texas. While SpaceX has previously caught the Super Heavy booster using the Mechazilla launch tower's mechanical arms three times, this will be the first attempt to capture the Starship vessel.
The recovery process for the spacecraft involves atmospheric reentry, engine-assisted braking, and a transition to a vertical position before the Mechazilla tower arms attempt to secure the vehicle. This experiment is a critical milestone in the company's goal to develop a fully reusable orbital rocket.
