SpaceX targets first Starship orbital test on September 22

On September 15, SpaceX announced its plans to launch the next Starship flight test on September 22, with the mission aiming to send the vehicle into orbit for the first time. This 14th test flight would represent a significant advancement in the rocket's development compared to its previous test in July, which achieved a suborbital trajectory.

The company intends to place Starship into Earth's orbit during this milestone flight, enabling it to conduct longer-duration flights and deploy the initial batch of Starlink V3 satellites. Pending regulatory approval, the mission is projected to last approximately 10 hours, with Starship ascending to an altitude of about 275 kilometers, completing roughly six orbits before returning to the Pacific Ocean, west of Chile.

SpaceX aims to test the booster's launch, separation, boostback, and splashdown procedures, propelling the company closer to its objective of a fully reusable orbital launch system.