SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says Starship will not attempt a tower catch on Flight 14, pushing the milestone back “a few months” while the team reviews Flight 13 data. Musk notes the ship could have been caught already if a tower were positioned at sea and confirms the first reflight is expected late this year or early next. He also revealed SpaceX’s ambitious goal of achieving more than 30 Starship launches per day by 2030, aligning with updated U.S. space‑transportation policy.
Musk Delays Starship Tower Catch — but Targets 30+ Launches Per Day by 2030.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has officially pushed back the long‑anticipated attempt to catch Starship’s upper stage using the giant launch tower. Instead of happening on Flight 14, Musk now says the catch attempt will occur “in a few months”.
Why the delay?
Musk explained that the ship could have already been caught if SpaceX had a tower positioned at sea where they practice landings. Since they don’t, the team is waiting until the next suitable window.
What’s next for Starship?
- The first reflight of the upper stage — a major milestone for full reusability — is expected late this year or early next year.
- Musk called this moment a “fork in the road of history” for humanity’s path to the stars.
The most shocking part…
Musk says SpaceX is aiming for over 30 Starship launches per day by 2030 — more than 10,000 launches per year if achieved. This aligns with the updated U.S. National Space Transportation Policy targeting 1,000+ annual launches from U.S. soil.
