SpaceX announced on October 28, 2026, that Ship 42 had completed two ground tests ahead of Starship Flight 15: a full-duration firing of six Raptor engines and a separate one-engine firing to simulate a deorbit burn. Space.com reported that the tests took place on October 26 and 27.
Two firings with different purposes
Ship 42 is the Starship upper stage being prepared for Flight 15. The two tests used different engine configurations and served different purposes:
| Test | Engine configuration | Stated purpose |
| Static fire | Six Raptor engines | Full-duration engine firing |
| Deorbit-burn simulation | One Raptor engine | Simulate a deorbit burn |
The video-page description for the six-engine test gives its duration as 60 seconds and identifies the site as Massey’s. That figure applies to the six-engine firing.
What the deorbit simulation rehearsed
A deorbit burn is an engine firing intended to change a spacecraft’s orbit so it can begin its return through the atmosphere. SpaceX said the separate test fired one Raptor to simulate that maneuver. The two tests therefore covered distinct engine configurations, rather than a six-engine test followed by a second firing of the same setup.
Flight 15’s catch plan depended on approval
Late-October coverage described Flight 15 as targeted for sometime in November, without naming a launch day. Space.com reported that SpaceX planned to attempt catches of both Ship and Super Heavy at Starbase, subject to regulatory approval. Ship had not previously been caught by the tower, according to that report.
NeoTeo previously covered SpaceX’s plan for a dual-stage catch on Flight 15.
