SpaceX has validated Mechazilla tower catches with multiple Super Heavy boosters since 2024, and Flight 13’s precise July 2026 Ship 40 splashdown prompted Elon Musk to signal an imminent upper-stage attempt barring post-flight issues. Recent September 2026 tests at Pad 2 lifted Ship 42 into the chopsticks for full catch-position simulations, exercising pin interfaces, lateral translation, and Ship Quick Disconnect alignment—directly rehearsing the geometry and post-catch propellant drain needed for a production vehicle. Flight 14, now delayed into mid-to-late September pending regulatory clearance, targets the first true orbital Starlink V3 mission but appears unlikely to attempt the ship catch; Flight 15 later in the fall remains the leading candidate. Trader sentiment reflects the gap between proven booster hardware and the added complexity of the lighter, faster-reentering upper stage, tempered by rapid iteration once initial attempts begin.