SpaceX’s recent Flight 13 demonstrated precise terminal guidance for the Starship upper stage during reentry and a soft Indian Ocean splashdown, with Elon Musk confirming the landing accuracy would have supported a tower catch if infrastructure had been available offshore. This validated key control systems for the legless upper-stage design, shifting focus from basic guidance to operational readiness. Musk initially targeted a catch attempt on Flight 14 in late August but revised the timeline on August 20 to “a few months,” citing regulatory hurdles from the FAA alongside hardware and tower preparations. Successful Super Heavy booster catches have already proven the Mechazilla arms and rapid-reuse concept, while the upper stage faces added challenges from orbital velocities and heat loads. Traders are watching Flight 14 preparations, upcoming static fires, and any regulatory updates as near-term catalysts that could accelerate or further delay the first attempt.