---
title: "Starship Spends Nearly Seven Hours in Orbit: SpaceX Prepares First Tower Catch with Mechazilla"
description: "SpaceX reported that Starship, nearly seven hours after launch, continues its flight in Earth orbit in normal condition. The company is preparing for the spacecraft's return to Starbase and its capture by the Mechazilla tower."
date: 2026-11-14T12:39:04.177Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/starship-seven-hours-orbit-mechazilla
tags: []
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Starship Spends Nearly Seven Hours in Orbit: SpaceX Prepares First Tower Catch with Mechazilla

![SpaceX Starship spacecraft launch with bright flame and smoke clouds against a blue sky and water](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/14/starship-flight-15-orbita-mechazilla/starship-flight-15-orbita-mechazilla-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Starship spent nearly seven hours in Earth orbit; the vehicle and heat shield are in operational condition.
- SpaceX is preparing for the spacecraft's return to Starbase and capture by the Mechazilla tower approximately 22.5 hours after launch.
- A successful catch will be a major milestone in mastering fully reusable system technology.

SpaceX announced that the Starship spacecraft continues its orbit around the Earth nearly seven hours after the mission began. According to the company, both the vehicle and its heat shield are in good working order, while specialists continue to monitor the performance of all systems and prepare for the next phase of testing.

### Seven Hours in Orbit and System Status

At this stage of the mission, the priority for SpaceX engineers is to monitor the health of the spacecraft and its key subsystems. Particular attention is paid to the heat shield, which must withstand extreme temperatures upon re-entering the dense layers of the atmosphere during its return to Earth. As of the time of publication, the company has reported no anomalies in the vehicle's condition.

### Mechazilla Tower Catch: The Main Objective of the Phase

The key objective of the upcoming phase is the return of Starship to the Starbase launch site in Texas, followed by a catch using the specialized Mechazilla tower. SpaceX expects to perform this operation approximately 22.5 hours after launch. If the attempt is successful, it will mark a major step forward in proving the fully reusable technology of the space system.

### Context: Previous Tests and Flight Numbering

Previously, the publication featured photographs capturing the launch of Starship Flight 15 and the splashdown of the Super Heavy Booster 22. Meanwhile, earlier reports from specialized media discussed the 14th test flight of the system, conducted on September 28, 2026, while some sources characterized the orbital flight as the first test flight in Earth orbit. Thus, open sources present discrepancies in the numbering and identification of specific Starship flights, which should be considered when cross-referencing data.

## Accounts differ

### Starship flight numbering and identification

- **SpaceX (via primary source ixbt.com):** The current flight is designated as Starship Flight 15, with the booster as Super Heavy Booster 22. ([ixbt.com](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/11/14/starship-provel-sem-casov-na-orbite-spacex-gotovitsia-vpervye-poimat-korabl-basnei-mechazilla.html))
- **RBC:** This refers to the 14th test flight of Starship. ([rbc.ru](https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/28/09/2026/6aba52119a7947724abc5f6f))
- **Gazeta.ua:** The 14th test launch of the Starship system took place (September 28). ([gazeta.ua](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/edu-and-science/_starship-vpervye-dolzhen-provesti-na-orbite-pochti-10-chasov/1259301))
- **Expert.ru:** Starship was launched on its first test flight into Earth orbit. ([expert.ru](https://expert.ru/news/spacex-zapustila-starship-v-pervyy-testovyy-polet-po-orbite-zemli))

*Where they agree:* SpaceX conducted an orbital Starship flight and continues to monitor the vehicle's status as it prepares for return.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Starship провёл семь часов на орбите: SpaceX готовится впервые поймать корабль башней Mechazilla](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/11/14/starship-provel-sem-casov-na-orbite-spacex-gotovitsia-vpervye-poimat-korabl-basnei-mechazilla.html) - Подтверждено по источнику ixbt.com
- [SpaceX запустила Starship в первый тестовый полет по орбите Земли](https://expert.ru/news/spacex-zapustila-starship-v-pervyy-testovyy-polet-po-orbite-zemli) - Подтверждено по источнику expert.ru
- [После взрывов — на орбиту. Как SpaceX отправила Starship в главный полет](https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/28/09/2026/6aba52119a7947724abc5f6f) - Подтверждено по источнику rbc.ru
- [Starship впервые должен провести на орбите почти 10 часов](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/edu-and-science/_starship-vpervye-dolzhen-provesti-na-orbite-pochti-10-chasov/1259301) - Подтверждено по источнику gazeta.ua

## FAQ

### How long did Starship spend in orbit by the time of the SpaceX announcement?

Nearly seven hours after the mission started.

### What is the condition of the spacecraft?

According to SpaceX, the spacecraft and its heat shield are in working order.

### What is scheduled for the next phase?

The return of Starship to the Starbase launch site in Texas and its capture by the Mechazilla tower roughly 22.5 hours after launch.