Update: The FAA has granted SpaceX the license for the Starship Flight 15 launch. The launch is confirmed for today. SpaceX is preparing for the final steps to launch Starship into orbit, reentry, and a first-time double catch.
The final approval came just more than 3 hours before the Flight 15 launch.
Starship Flight 15’s official updates page is still showing ‘pending regulatory approval’. There has been no update in this regard on X from SpaceX or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
As of this writing, around 4 hours before the Flight 15 Starship launch and landing-catch test, the FAA hasn’t issued the final license to SpaceX for Flight 15.
With the passage of every minute, this is becoming concerning, as the hype for Flight 15 has gained widespread attention from the masses around the globe.
Starship‘s 15th flight is a historic event in aerospace history, as SpaceX aims for a double catch (catching both the Super Heavy booster and later the upper stage Starship).
Flight 15 launch window will open at 4:55 Central and 5:55 Eastern Time in the United States. If the license isn’t issued around 2 hours ahead of the launch, SpaceX might be forced to delay the flight until tomorrow.
The earliest sign of a non-approval is that SpaceX will most likely not load propellant onto the fully stacked Starship in preparation for the launch on the scheduled timeline.
As of now, no one except for SpaceX and the FAA knows if the approval is finalized. Both sides have been completely silent on the matter.
Perhaps the approval has already been given to SpaceX verbally, but it’s taking time for the FAA to draft the details and publish them on its website.
In Flight 14, the FAA Public Affairs commented on our article regarding licensing matters. Hopefully, the federal licensing authority clears the confusion this time too.
We will be updating this page if the FAA grants a license and Flight 15 is a go for today [update: SpaceX obtained license for Flight 15].
Our Flight 15 live updates and live streams page will be available around 1 hour before the launch window (4:00 PM Central/500 PM Eastern Time).
Stay tuned for future updates on Starship and SpaceX. Follow us on:
Google News | X (Twitter) | Flipboard | WhatsApp Channel | RSS (Feedly).
Related Starship News
- 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
- Elon Musk to give a share of SpaceX (SPCX) to every American child, President Trump praises the act, more
.){kind=link}