Story perspectives

SpaceX Targets September 22 Starship 14th Launch

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 10:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

SpaceX will launch Starship’s 14th test flight, targeting an orbital launch on September 22.
The launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. CT (1215 GMT) from Starbase in South Texas.
Starship will carry 26 third-generation Starlink V3 satellites, the vehicle’s first revenue-generating payload.
SpaceX will not attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster or Ship upper stage.
Modifications address relight issues from Flight 13, enabling six 171-mi orbits before Pacific splashdown west of Chile.

History

Historical Context

In December 2015 SpaceX landed the Falcon 9 first stage vertically at Cape Canaveral, the first orbital booster recovery. That breakthrough led to routine reflights—by May 2021 booster B1051 had flown ten missions—making reusable rockets the norm. Today Starship’s 14th test at Boca Chica prepares a Starlink V3 launch without booster recovery, extending the shift toward fully-reusable launch services.

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Story summary

SpaceX will launch Starship’s 14th test flight, targeting an orbital launch on September 22.
The launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. CT (1215 GMT) from Starbase in South Texas.
Starship will carry 26 third-generation Starlink V3 satellites, the vehicle’s first revenue-generating payload.
SpaceX will not attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster or Ship upper stage.
Modifications address relight issues from Flight 13, enabling six 171-mi orbits before Pacific splashdown west of Chile.

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