SpaceX recorded $14.6 billion in revenue during the quarter ending September 30, 2026, and founder and CEO Elon Musk announced plans during a third-quarter earnings call to catch both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft using launch tower arms during the upcoming 15th test flight targeted for November 2026.
SpaceX is preparing to push its reusability program into uncharted territory during its next test flight. The company intends to capture the booster. It also intends to capture the ship.
The announcement arrived alongside the release of the company’s financial results for the three-month period ending September 30, 2026. SpaceX recorded $14.6 billion in revenue during the quarter, representing a 161% increase from the $5.6 billion earned in the same period of 2025.
Company representatives also reported a net income of $4.4 billion for the quarter, marking a turnaround from a loss of $1.1 billion during the corresponding stretch last year.
SpaceX Targets Double Tower Catch for Flight 15 in November 2026
Flight 15 is targeted for next month, broadly understood as November 2026, though SpaceX has not yet published a firm calendar date. The mission will test whether the mechanical infrastructure can safely handle both halves of the rocket system in succession.
While SpaceX has successfully executed three chopstick catches of the Super Heavy booster on earlier test flights, the upper-stage Ship has never been caught at the tower. The upper stage presents an engineering hurdle because it travels higher, farther, and faster than the booster before reentering the atmosphere from orbital velocity.
The physical logistics at the launch site add complexity to the operation. The booster does not return simultaneously with the ship. The launch tower must catch the first stage, clear it, and reset its mechanical arms before the second stage arrives.
SpaceX Reports $14.6 Billion in Third-Quarter Revenue
The soaring quarterly figures reflect a business model changing rapidly. The vast majority of revenue stemmed from connectivity services provided by the Starlink satellite network and artificial intelligence infrastructure segments.
| SpaceX Q3 2026 Metric | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Quarterly Revenue | $14.6 billion |
| Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth | 161% increase over Q3 2025 ($5.6 billion) |
| Quarterly Net Income | $4.4 billion ($5.5 billion improvement over prior year loss) |
| Super Intelligence Revenue | Approximately $7.56 billion |
To support the growth projected for its connectivity and intelligence operations, SpaceX is building out launch infrastructure capable of supporting thousands of flights annually. The company aims to loft large volumes of next-generation Starlink satellites—such as the Version 3 hardware deployed during Flight 14 on September 28—alongside orbital data centers.
Starship Full Reusability Aims for Deep-Space Logistics
Achieving full and rapid reusability for a vehicle of Starship’s scale is viewed by leadership as a prerequisite for establishing sustainable deep-space logistics and Mars exploration.
Eliminating the need for recovery ships, landing barges, and extended marine refurbishment logistics reduces turnaround times and operating costs. Musk projected that these efficiencies could drive the company’s annual recurring revenue toward a range between $500 billion and $1 trillion by the end of 2027.