SpaceX to Attempt First Starship Orbital Flight on September 22

TechCrunch's Sean O'Kane reports that SpaceX has scheduled Starship's 14th test flight for September 22. The company plans to attempt placing the rocket's upper stage into Earth's orbit for the first time. The launch window will last 75 minutes and open at 7:15 a.m. CT.

SpaceX also plans to deploy 26 first-generation V3 Starlink satellites into its network of 10,000 internet satellites. If successful, the mission would be the first Starship launch to generate revenue for SpaceX's launch division, although that revenue would come from another division of the company.

This would be the second Starship test launch since SpaceX became publicly traded in the largest IPO in history in June. During the first, in July, SpaceX deployed V3 Starlink satellites for the first time, but they were intended only to test deployment and burned up in Earth's atmosphere after roughly 20 minutes.

The flight will test orbital reach, not the full return-and-reuse process. SpaceX will not attempt to catch the upper stage with its launch tower or catch the Super Heavy booster. The company said it made “several modifications” to the booster after issues on Flight 13 and additional changes to Starship's heat shield based on studying the recovered upper stage from that flight.