SpaceX is aiming to launch the 14th test flight of its Starship rocket as early as this month, with plans to deploy its first upgraded Starlink V3 satellites and attempt the vehicle’s first-ever upper stage landing, CEO Elon Musk announced during the company’s earnings call on Tuesday.
The mission marks a major milestone in the development of Starship, following the 13th test flight in July, where the rocket’s upper stage demonstrated improved landing capabilities during a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean.
Musk said the next flight will include an attempt to return the upper stage to land using the launch tower’s giant mechanical arms in Texas, subject to regulatory approval.
“Assuming we receive approval, we’ll attempt to catch the ship with the tower on the next flight, which is tentatively scheduled for the end of this month,” Musk said, adding that he expects Starship’s launch frequency to increase rapidly.
SpaceX has already successfully recovered its Super Heavy booster three times using the tower’s mechanical arms, most recently in March 2025. If the upper-stage recovery succeeds, it would be a significant step towards the company’s goal of creating the world’s first fully reusable orbital launch system.
NASA is also closely monitoring Starship’s progress, as the spacecraft is expected to play a key role in future lunar missions under the agency’s Artemis programme.
The upcoming flight will also carry the first batch of Starlink V3 satellites, which Musk said are expected to deliver 10 times more broadband capacity and data density than current Starlink satellites.
According to SpaceX, each future Starship mission could eventually carry up to 60 Starlink V3 satellites, allowing the company to rapidly expand its global satellite internet network.
Musk said SpaceX hopes to dramatically increase Starship launches, predicting the company could eventually conduct at least one Starship flight every day within the next year.
As Starlink continues to generate increasing revenue, SpaceX has shifted more of its launch capacity toward deploying its own satellites, making Starship’s reusable design a critical part of the company’s long-term strategy.
