SpaceX is preparing for the 14th test flight of its Starship rocket, aiming to achieve a major milestone by putting the upper stage into Earth’s orbit for the first time. This test launch is scheduled for September 22, with a window opening at 7:15 a.m. CT. During the mission, SpaceX plans to deploy 26 of its third-generation Starlink satellites, which are part of its vast constellation of around 10,000 internet satellites. Success in this launch would also mark the first time Starship generates revenue for SpaceX through satellite deployment.

This upcoming flight follows SpaceX's July test, which was the company’s first Starship launch as a publicly traded entity after its historic IPO in June 2026. While the July flight successfully delivered Starlink satellites, those satellites were meant for deployment tests and did not enter stable orbit. Achieving orbital insertion for the Starship upper stage would be a significant technological advance for SpaceX, fulfilling a key step towards the company’s goal of retiring its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets in favor of Starship.

Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, has indicated the company’s ambition to have Starship flying reliably multiple times per week to optimize engineering and production resources. However, this test flight will only evaluate Starship’s ability to reach orbit, not its capacity for rapid reuse or safe returns. Musk has also recently scaled back expectations around using the launch tower to catch Starship during this flight, citing the risks posed by potential explosions at this critical stage.

The Super Heavy booster attached to Starship will also fly without a recovery attempt this time, as SpaceX continues to address engine relighting issues observed on recent tests. The booster has undergone hardware and software upgrades to improve performance. The upper stage performed well in the last flight, surviving a controlled water landing and being recovered for study. Adjustments to Starship’s heat shield have been made based on insights from the recovered vehicle, helping prepare for this upcoming orbital test.