SpaceX has advanced Ship upper-stage catch preparations through structural interface tests with unflown Ship 42 at the Pad 2 tower in mid-September 2026, including simulated catch positions, arm rotations, and quick-disconnect arm alignment to support post-catch propellant drain. Elon Musk’s August statements shifted the first orbital-class attempt from Flight 14 to “a few months,” citing Flight 13’s precise Ship 40 splashdown as catch-viable. Flight 14 on September 28 achieved the first Starship orbit and Starlink V3 deployment but ended early with ocean splashdowns and no tower attempt. Upcoming Flight 15 hardware and potential FAA approval for a controlled deorbit trajectory to the tower remain key near-term catalysts, though the faster, hotter orbital return profile adds technical complexity beyond prior booster catches.