SpaceX (SPCX) is preparing to make history one more time today with Starship’s 15th launch and landing-catch test (IFT-15).
As of the latest updates from Starbase this morning, SpaceX is ready for Starship Flight 15 launch. Apparently, there are no weather or technical hurdles that could result in an early scrub call.
The official launch time for Flight 15 today is 4:45 PM Central Time / 5:45 PM Eastern Time. SpaceX acquired the FAA regulatory approval just a few hours before the launch this time.
You can watch the official SpaceX live stream below, which is broadcast via Elon Musk’s social media platform X. The official live-stream webcast will begin about half an hour before lift-off.
However, influential YouTubers like NASASpaceFlight and Everyday Astronaut will also cover the live event, and you can watch them below. These unofficial streams have already started, mainly covering the things happening at Starbase, Texas.
I will be posting live text updates for people who prefer to read or can’t play audio/video for some reason (read below).
The prime objective of Starship Flight 15 is the double catch of Booster 22 and Ship 42. However, it’s conditional, as SpaceX detailed in its official update.
If SpaceX catches Flight 15 Starship, it will happen tomorrow. Starship will coast in space for about 21 hours after deploying Starlink V3 satellites.
Starship’s upper stage (Ship 42) has multiple contingency landing locations, depending on the health of the engines and other systems.
During this prolonged coast phase, flight control teams have several options to end the mission early and return Starship to precleared areas of the Pacific Ocean if needed. These locations include early- and late-mission splashdown options around Hawaii and a mid-mission splashdown opportunity several hundred kilometers off the coast of Chile. These precleared areas, which were also used during Flight 14, provide a safe place to land Starship if any conditions arise that may preclude the ability to perform a safe reentry.
Official Flight 15 Live Stream
Starship Flight 15 YouTube Live Streams
Unofficial live streams are having some interesting discussions regarding Starship, the latest events, and possible outcomes. These discussions are enriching about Starship and Starbase and help increase the understanding of technical terms and functions.
Live Stream by NASASpaceFlight
Live Stream by Everyday Astronaut
Starship Flight 15 Live Updates (refresh page for latest updates; halts will be mentioned in the list)
- It’s been just 7 years since SpaceX started the design of Starship from scratch
- Fully integrated (ship mounted on booster) Starship V3 is 407 ft tall (124 meters), which is 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty
- The V3 Super Heavy booster at 236 ft (72 meters) alone is as tall as a fully integrated Falcon 9 rocket
- Flight 15 Starship (Ship 42) will deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites in today’s mission
- One heat shield tile installed and signed by Mr. Beast is also flying today on Flight 15 Starship
- 26 Starlink V3 satellites deployed in Flight 14 are working fine, according to the latest update by SpaceX
- T-9 minutes: Propellant load almost complete
- SpaceX can recycle the count even after T-60 seconds
- T-4 minutes: Propellant load complete in the vehicle; just header tanks filling now
- No hold, successful lift-off
- 33 out of 33 engines lit perfectly
- Tower systems are go for catch
- T+2 minutes 30 seconds: Successful stage separation
- T+3 minutes 2 seconds: All engines on Super Heavy booster cut off (boostback shutdown)
- Booster 22 is on its way back to Starbase for a catch
- Inner 13 engines need to be lit to slow the booster down for a catch
- Booster will transition down to 5 and then 3 engines for a landing catch by the launch tower (Mechazilla)
- Flight 15 Super Heavy Booster wasn’t caught today because of safety reasons at the launch pad (booster catch aborted)
- Booster 22 made a splashdown landing off the coast of Starbase
- T+8 mins 26 seconds, Starship orbital insertion looks nominal (positive sign that insertion can be performed)
- Ship 42 is coasting in space; it will take around 22 hours and 14 rounds around Earth (orbits) to return to Starbase for a Starship catch (Starship catch will happen tomorrow if all systems are a go)
- T+16 minutes: SpaceX is checking all systems to confirm Starship going orbital
- T+23 minutes: All systems looking good; Starship is a go for orbit
- A single Raptor sea-level engine will be ignited to enter orbit
- T+27 minutes: Starship made a successful orbital insertion
- T+34 minutes: Starship payload door (Pez Dispenser) is opening
- Payload deployment (26 Starlink V3s) will take around 40 minutes (longer than Flight 14)
- T+35 minutse 50 seconds: 1st Starlink V3 satellite deployed
- T+39 minutes 29 seconds: 2nd Starlink V3 satellite deployed in space
- T+46 minutes 5 seconds: 4 Starlink satellites deployed
- T+1 hour 8 minutes: 18 Starlink V3 satellites have been deployed in space
- Updates paused; we’ll return in a few hours as Starship circles around Earth (watch videos above for latest updates)
Stay tuned for future updates on Starship and SpaceX. Follow us on:
Google News | X (Twitter) | Flipboard | WhatsApp Channel | RSS (Feedly).
Related Starship News
- Watch the live streams of Starship Flight 15 with live updates
- The FAA grants SpaceX license for Starship Flight 15, just hours ahead of launch
- SpaceX unveils Starlink Mini 2 satellite broadband terminal with built-in battery and Wi-Fi support
- Flight 15 Starship double-catch to happen NET Friday the 13th (confirmed)
- SpaceX completes Flight 15 pre-launch static fires and simulations on Starship 42 and Super Heavy (videos)
- Flight 15 catch, Starlink V3, SI ($1T revenue): Key takeaways from Elon Musk’s SpaceX (SPCX) Q3 2026 Earnings Call
