SpaceX Nears Historic Starship Catch Attempt
SpaceX’s Starship program just cleared another major milestone, and Elon Musk is already pointing to the next big leap: attempting to catch Starship.
A Successful Tenth Test Flight
Earlier this week, Starship completed its tenth test launch with a flawless performance. The Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, the spacecraft released eight Starlink simulators into orbit, and the vehicle itself wrapped up with a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. It was also the first mission to include a payload deployment, signaling SpaceX’s growing confidence in the system.
Why SpaceX Didn’t Attempt a Catch
Although the booster has already undergone three catch attempts on earlier flights — October 13, 2024 (Flight 5), January 16 (Flight 7), and March 6 (Flight 8) — SpaceX made clear that this mission would not include one. The focus instead was on validating other mission objectives before moving forward with more ambitious recovery operations.
Musk’s Roadmap for the First Starship Catch
Following the flight, Musk outlined on X where things are headed next. He explained that the company is preparing for its most daring recovery attempt yet. According to Musk, the earliest opportunities could come on Flights 13 through 15, but only if the upcoming V3 test flights prove reliable.
Transitioning from V2 to V3
The Starship that flew during Flight 10 was a V2 model. While it shares the same dimensions as the upcoming V3 version, it carries less thrust and has a lower payload capacity. Musk also confirmed that only one more V2 rocket left to launch, meaning SpaceX will soon shift entirely to the more powerful V3 series.
Looking Ahead
If SpaceX succeeds in catching Starship, it would mark one of the most significant breakthroughs in reusable rocketry since the Falcon 9’s first landing. For Musk, this step isn’t just about engineering excellence — it’s about building the foundation for sustainable missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Starship catch is probably flight 13 to 15, depending on how well V3 flights go
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2025