SpaceX has shifted the first Starship upper-stage tower catch from Flight 14 to Flight 15 after Flight 13’s precise Indian Ocean splashdown validated landing geometry and control margins. Recent September tests at Pad 2 lifted Ship 42 into Mechazilla’s chopsticks, exercising attachment points, pushers, and Ship Quick Disconnect alignment without stabilizer arms to simulate post-catch handling. Flight 14, now targeting mid-to-late September with a Starlink V3 payload, will use controlled ocean splashdowns for both vehicles to prioritize payload delivery. Flight 15 hardware is already undergoing catch-specific rehearsals on the upgraded Pad 2 tower, which features shortened arms and electromechanical actuators optimized for the faster-returning Ship. Regulatory approval timelines and final static-fire data remain the key near-term swing factors.