SpaceX Set to Launch Starship Into Orbit September 22.
SpaceX announced Tuesday it will attempt the first orbital flight of its Starship rocket on September 22. The 14th test flight would deploy 26 third-generation Starlink satellites.
- 75-minute launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. CT on September 22.
- Starship would fly approximately 275 km above Earth, completing about six orbits.
- The mission is expected to last nearly 10 hours before Pacific Ocean splashdown.
- SpaceX will not attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster or upper stage this flight.
Why it matters: Reaching orbit is a critical step for SpaceX's plan to retire Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy in favor of Starship. CEO Elon Musk has said that transition will happen once Starship flies reliably several times per week.
- A successful revenue-generating flight would be the first for SpaceX's launch division from Starship.
- SpaceX also needs orbital reliability to meet launch cadence commitments made during its IPO process.
How 4 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 3 sources: The center focuses on the technical parameters of the mission and its significance as a step toward a fully reusable orbital launch system.
Left coverage, 1 sources: The left emphasizes the business stakes — IPO commitments, revenue generation, and Musk's public promises about Starship's pace — alongside the technical milestone.
What’s next: SpaceX made hardware and software changes to the Super Heavy booster after its engine re-light failure on Flight 13. The booster will splashdown rather than be caught.
- Additional heat shield changes were made based on analysis of the recovered Flight 13 upper stage.
- Whether the Super Heavy booster's repeated engine re-light problems have been fully resolved.
- Whether regulators will approve the launch before the September 22 window.