SpaceX Targets November Starship Test With Recovery Attempts for Both Stages
SpaceX is likely to attempt recovery of both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage on a flight test targeted for November 2026, according to Aviation Week.
FlyMarshall Newsroom · via Aviation Week1 min read
SpaceX plans to try to recover both vehicles during Starship’s next flight test. Aviation Week reported on October 20, 2026, that the test was targeted for November.
The planned test includes recovery attempts for both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage.
What has been confirmed
The plan and November target are assessed as likely, not officially confirmed. Aviation Week attributed to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk the statement that success would mark the first full recovery of an orbital launch vehicle; that claim is also assessed as likely in the fact set.Why it matters
Recovering both stages could enable SpaceX to reuse the full launch vehicle. Reuse can affect how operators manage launch hardware between missions, although the fact set gives no confirmed schedule or cost effects.FlyMarshall context
Starship has two main stages: the Super Heavy booster, which supplies thrust during the early part of flight, and the upper stage, which continues the journey after separation. Recovering both would mean bringing back the booster and the spacecraft-sized upper stage.What happens next
A flight test was targeted for November 2026. The fact set does not provide an officially confirmed launch date or further details on the recovery attempts.Continue reading
This is an excerpt. The full story, written and reported by Aviation Week, continues on their site.
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