STARBASE, Texas — SpaceX is targeting late August for the 14th test flight of its Starship launch system and may attempt the first tower catch of a returning Starship upper stage, according to comments from company CEO Elon Musk.
Musk discussed the tentative flight plan Aug. 4 during SpaceX’s quarterly earnings call. The launch schedule and proposed catch remain subject to regulatory approval and could change as testing continues.
Starship consists of the Super Heavy booster and an upper-stage spacecraft called Ship. Both vehicles are designed for reuse. The launch towers at Starbase use large mechanical arms to stack the vehicles and are intended eventually to catch them when they return.
SpaceX has previously caught Super Heavy boosters with the tower arms, but the company has not attempted to catch a returning Ship. A successful upper-stage catch would mark another step toward the company’s goal of rapidly reusing the entire launch system.
The proposed attempt follows Flight 13, which launched from Starbase on July 24 and ended with a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX said the upper stage and its heat-shield system performed well enough during reentry to support planning for the more ambitious Flight 14 profile.
Flight 14 also is expected to carry a group of larger Starlink V3 satellites. During Flight 13, Starship deployed test satellites on a suborbital trajectory. SpaceX intends to place the next group into an operational orbit if the upcoming mission proceeds as planned.
The attempt would bring another period of testing, transportation activity and possible road or beach restrictions near Starbase. Residents and visitors should rely on official notices from Cameron County, the City of Brownsville, Starbase and SpaceX for confirmed launch times and closures.
AI-generated image for illustration purposes.
Source: Space.com, August 4, 2026.
