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SpaceX Sets September 22, 2026 Starship Orbital Launch

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 2:30 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

SpaceX launches Starship

SpaceX plans to launch Starship into orbit on September 22, 2026.
The upper stage will reach roughly 275 km, completing six orbits in about ten hours.
The mission will deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, each weighing about 2,000 kg.
After orbit, the upper stage will deorbit and splash down in the Pacific west of Chile.
The Super Heavy booster will separate and splash down in the Gulf of Mexico without a tower catch.

Summary

SpaceX shares surge

SpaceX shares rose over 5% to $151.12 after confirming the September 22 launch date.
SpaceX’s AI division posted $3.4 billion Q2 sales.
The AI division achieved positive adjusted EBITDA after renting Colossus capacity.
Starlink generated $7.5 billion revenue, about 60% of total earnings, serving 12 million subscribers.
Analysts advise conservative position sizing until Starship shows reliable orbital cadence, citing valuation multiples over 60× sales.

History

Historical Context

NASA’s first reusable orbital flight, STS-1, lifted Columbia on 12 April 1981, logging 54.5 hours and proving a crewed shuttle could return safely. Decades later, SpaceX plans a September 22 2026 Starship launch that will reuse the Super Heavy booster and deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, extending the reusable-vehicle trend begun by Columbia toward commercial high-frequency access.

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SpaceX launches Starship

SpaceX plans to launch Starship into orbit on September 22, 2026.
The upper stage will reach roughly 275 km, completing six orbits in about ten hours.
The mission will deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, each weighing about 2,000 kg.
After orbit, the upper stage will deorbit and splash down in the Pacific west of Chile.
The Super Heavy booster will separate and splash down in the Gulf of Mexico without a tower catch.

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