SpaceX’s Starship is scheduled for its 14th test flight and first orbital launch attempt on Monday, 28 September 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the launch licence for Starship Flight 14 on 26 September 2026, and the mission is planned from Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas.
Starship Launch Vehicle
Starship is a fully reusable super heavy-lift launch system developed by SpaceX. The vehicle uses a two-stage configuration with the Super Heavy booster as the first stage and the Starship upper stage as the second stage.
Mission Profile and Flight Plan
The launch window opens for 75 minutes at 7:15 a.m. Central Time, which is 8:15 a.m. EDT. The flight is expected to last nearly 10 hours and to attempt about six orbits at an altitude of around 275 kilometres.
Super Heavy Booster 21 and Starship Ship 41 are the hardware assigned for this mission. Ship 41 is planned to splash down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile, while the Super Heavy booster is planned to return to the Gulf of Mexico.
Starlink V3 Satellites
The mission will deploy 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites. These are the first operational V3 units planned for launch, and Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation in low Earth orbit.
Important Facts for Exams
- Starbase is SpaceX’s launch site in Texas and is used for Starship testing and launches.
- The FAA is the United States federal agency that regulates commercial space launches.
- Starship is designed as a two-stage launch system with a booster and an upper stage.
- Starlink is a satellite internet service operated by SpaceX in low Earth orbit.
Pre-Launch Preparation
SpaceX completed a full wet dress rehearsal with Booster 21 and Ship 41 on 24 September 2026. A wet dress rehearsal is a launch simulation that includes loading propellant into the rocket before liftoff.
