Spacex Starship launch: Flight 14 targets Starship’s first trip to orbit today

The Spacex Starship launch is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026, as SpaceX prepares Starship Flight 14 for its first planned orbital mission from Starbase in South Texas. The company has set a 75-minute launch window beginning at 8:15 a.m. EDT, or 7:15 a.m. CDT. The mission is designed to place Starship into low Earth orbit, deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites and keep the spacecraft in space for several hours before a planned Pacific Ocean splashdown.

Flight 14 marks a major change in the Starship flight program. The first 13 integrated Starship-Super Heavy flights followed suborbital trajectories. This mission is designed to take the upper stage around Earth multiple times before completing a controlled return.

SpaceX has completed its major prelaunch rehearsal for the mission. The Starship and Super Heavy vehicle are also stacked at Pad 2 at Starbase. The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized the launch and reentry operations for Flight 14.

The mission remains a scheduled launch attempt as of the latest confirmed information. The actual result will depend on what happens during the countdown and flight.

When is the Spacex Starship launch scheduled?

SpaceX currently lists Starship Flight 14 for September 28, 2026.

The 75-minute window is scheduled to open at 12:15 p.m. UTC and close at 1:30 p.m. UTC. For people watching in the United States, that means the window begins at 8:15 a.m. EDT and 7:15 a.m. CDT.

The launch will take place at SpaceX’s Starbase complex in South Texas. The company plans to use Pad 2 for the mission.

The schedule is a target rather than a guarantee of liftoff at the opening second. Launch teams still need to complete the final countdown, verify vehicle systems and meet the required range and safety conditions.

A scheduled launch also should not be confused with a completed flight. As of the latest confirmed status, Flight 14 has not yet completed its mission.

What is Starship Flight 14?

Starship Flight 14 is the 14th integrated flight test of SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy system.

The vehicle has two major stages. Super Heavy serves as the first stage, while Starship is the upper-stage spacecraft that continues toward orbit after separation.

The combined vehicle is about 124 meters tall, making it one of the largest launch vehicles ever prepared for flight.

For Flight 14, SpaceX is using a V3-generation Starship and Super Heavy configuration. The booster is designated Booster 21, while the spacecraft is Ship 41.

Both stages have been prepared for the mission at Starbase.

Unlike some future Starship recovery plans, Flight 14 does not call for either stage to be caught by the launch tower. Instead, the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft are expected to complete their respective flights with ocean splashdowns.

That approach allows SpaceX to concentrate on the orbital mission profile and gather additional data from the vehicle.

Why Flight 14 is different from previous Starship flights

The defining difference is the mission’s planned orbital trajectory.

The previous 13 integrated Starship flights were designed around suborbital test profiles. Flight 14 is intended to insert the Starship upper stage into low Earth orbit.

SpaceX plans for Starship to reach an orbital altitude of roughly 275 kilometers. The spacecraft is expected to complete about six trips around Earth during the mission.

The planned flight should last nearly 10 hours if the mission proceeds according to the published profile.

That longer mission duration creates several new challenges. Starship must operate in space for an extended period, deploy satellites, perform its planned orbital operations and then survive atmospheric reentry.

The flight therefore tests much more than liftoff and ascent.

What will Starship carry?

Flight 14 is scheduled to carry 26 Starlink V3 satellites.

The satellites represent the next generation of SpaceX’s Starlink spacecraft. Their deployment gives the mission an operational payload in addition to its Starship test objectives.

The 26 satellites are intended to enter low Earth orbit and become part of the Starlink network.

This is important because the previous Starship test involving V3 satellites did not place them into a long-term operational orbit. Flight 13 deployed V3 hardware for testing during a suborbital mission.

Flight 14 is designed to take the next step by deploying the satellites after Starship reaches orbit.

The payload deployment will provide another test of Starship as a satellite-launch vehicle.

What are Starlink V3 satellites?

Starlink V3 satellites are designed to provide significantly greater network capacity than earlier generations of Starlink spacecraft.

SpaceX has developed the larger satellites for future growth of its broadband constellation. Their deployment from Starship also demonstrates why the larger rocket can become important to the Starlink network.

The Flight 14 payload consists of 26 V3 satellites.

Each spacecraft is designed to add substantial communications capacity to the Starlink system. Putting the satellites into an operational orbit would therefore make Flight 14 more than a demonstration of the Starship vehicle itself.

The mission combines transportation, satellite deployment and orbital operations into one flight.

The satellites will separate from Starship during the orbital portion of the mission. They will then continue their own orbital activities after deployment.

What happens during the first part of the launch?

The launch begins with the ignition of Super Heavy’s Raptor engines.

Super Heavy provides the enormous thrust needed to lift the full Starship stack away from Starbase.

The vehicle will climb through the atmosphere before reaching the point where the two stages separate.

Starship will then continue its flight using its own engines.

The mission requires a carefully controlled transition from the powerful ascent phase to orbital flight. SpaceX has repeatedly tested this sequence during previous Starship missions.

Flight 14 will put the system through the same basic sequence while adding the much more demanding goal of reaching orbit.

What will happen to Super Heavy?

After stage separation, Super Heavy will begin its return sequence.

The booster is expected to perform a directional maneuver and then conduct its planned boostback and descent operations.

For Flight 14, SpaceX does not plan to catch Super Heavy with the launch tower.

Instead, the booster is expected to descend toward a designated area in the Gulf of Mexico and complete a splashdown.

This recovery method differs from SpaceX’s longer-term objective of returning Starship stages to the launch site for rapid reuse.

The booster’s performance remains important because SpaceX continues to refine its approach to controlling the massive first stage after separation.

The company has made changes to hardware and software following information gathered during earlier Starship flights.

What will Starship do once it reaches orbit?

The Starship spacecraft has several important tasks after separating from Super Heavy.

First, it must complete orbital insertion.

Once established in its planned orbit, Starship will deploy the 26 Starlink V3 satellites.

The spacecraft will then continue its orbital mission for several hours. SpaceX plans for Starship to complete approximately six orbits around Earth.

At the end of the orbital portion, Starship is scheduled to conduct a deorbit maneuver.

The spacecraft will then enter the atmosphere for its return to Earth.

This sequence makes Flight 14 significantly more demanding than a short suborbital demonstration. Starship must operate correctly across a much longer period before attempting its final descent.

Where will Starship come down?

The planned Starship splashdown area is in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

The spacecraft is expected to spend nearly 10 hours completing the planned mission before beginning its final descent.

The vehicle must survive atmospheric reentry before reaching the ocean.

During reentry, Starship will encounter intense aerodynamic heating. Its thermal protection system is therefore one of the most important parts of the spacecraft.

The mission will provide SpaceX with additional information about how the vehicle’s thermal protection performs during an orbital return.

Why the heat shield matters

Starship’s long-term design depends on reusability.

A reusable spacecraft must withstand the extreme conditions of atmospheric reentry and remain structurally sound after returning from space.

SpaceX has continued making changes to Starship’s heat-shield system as the flight program has progressed.

Earlier missions provided real-world information about individual thermal protection tiles, gaps between tiles and areas exposed to high heating.

Flight 14 provides another opportunity to gather data from an orbital reentry.

The spacecraft must transition from the vacuum of space into the atmosphere while maintaining control and protecting its internal systems.

A successful return would give SpaceX another set of valuable flight measurements for future Starship vehicles.

What happened on the previous Starship flight?

Flight 13 launched from Starbase on July 24, 2026.

It was the second flight of the V3 versions of Starship and Super Heavy. The mission also became the first Starship flight to deploy next-generation Starlink V3 satellites.

During ascent, Super Heavy successfully ignited all 33 Raptor 3 engines.

The booster also completed the high-thrust portion of its boostback burn with all 33 engines. The burn ended early, providing SpaceX with additional information about the booster’s return sequence.

Starship continued its own flight after stage separation.

The mission provided another important set of test data before Flight 14.

What happened on Starship Flight 12?

Flight 12 launched on May 22, 2026, from Starbase.

It was the first flight of the V3 Starship and Super Heavy vehicles and the first Starship launch from Pad 2.

The mission included several new systems and tests.

During the flight, Super Heavy experienced problems during its return sequence. The booster ultimately made a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

SpaceX used the results from that mission to make further changes to the vehicle.

Those changes form part of the development process leading into later Starship flights.

Has the FAA approved Flight 14?

Yes.

The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized the launch and reentry operations associated with Starship Flight 14.

The approval is an important requirement for the mission because Starship launches and returns involve regulated flight and public-safety considerations.

FAA authorization does not determine whether the spacecraft will complete every mission objective.

The vehicle still needs to pass SpaceX’s final launch checks and meet the operational requirements for liftoff.

What did SpaceX do before the launch?

SpaceX conducted a full wet dress rehearsal before Flight 14.

During the rehearsal, the company loaded the vehicle with its launch propellants and practiced key countdown procedures.

A wet dress rehearsal allows engineers and launch teams to test the fueling process, ground equipment and countdown sequence without launching the rocket.

The successful rehearsal gave SpaceX an important prelaunch test before the planned attempt.

The vehicle was also stacked at Pad 2 ahead of the launch window.

These preparations mean the mission has moved into its final launch phase.

How long will Flight 14 last?

SpaceX expects the mission to last nearly 10 hours.

The first minutes will cover liftoff, ascent and stage separation.

Starship will then enter its planned orbit and conduct satellite deployment.

The spacecraft is expected to remain in orbit for several hours and complete approximately six orbits.

It will then perform the planned deorbit maneuver before returning through the atmosphere.

The final stage involves a controlled descent toward the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

The long duration makes Flight 14 a major operational test for Starship.

What makes the launch important for Starship?

Flight 14 is designed to move Starship into a new stage of flight testing.

Earlier missions concentrated heavily on ascent, stage separation, booster operations and suborbital returns.

This mission introduces sustained orbital operations and an operational satellite deployment.

That means SpaceX will gather data across a much broader part of the vehicle’s intended mission.

The test also brings Starship closer to its long-term role as a reusable orbital launch system.

SpaceX ultimately intends Starship to support repeated launches with both stages designed for recovery and reuse.

Flight 14 does not demonstrate the complete recovery system. However, it tests several of the capabilities needed before SpaceX can progress toward more complex recovery missions.

What should U.S. viewers know about the launch window?

The current launch window begins at 8:15 a.m. EDT on September 28.

In Central Time, the window begins at 7:15 a.m.

The window lasts 75 minutes.

That means the planned window closes at 9:30 a.m. EDT, or 8:30 a.m. CDT.

Viewers should pay attention to official SpaceX updates during the countdown because launch timing can change for operational reasons.

The scheduled window represents the period available for the launch attempt, not a guarantee that liftoff will occur at the opening time.

Where can people watch Starship Flight 14?

SpaceX provides live coverage of its major Starship launches through its official online platforms.

The company’s Starship mission coverage typically includes the countdown, launch and flight updates.

Major spaceflight broadcasters also provide live coverage for viewers who want additional commentary and analysis.

For the most accurate launch timing, viewers should rely on SpaceX’s current mission information during the countdown.

The flight has not yet been completed as of the latest confirmed information used for this article.

What happens if the launch does not occur?

A missed launch opportunity would not automatically mean the mission has ended.

SpaceX has previously adjusted Starship launch schedules as testing, regulatory requirements and vehicle preparations changed.

Flight 14 itself moved from an earlier September target to September 28.

If the vehicle cannot launch during the available window, SpaceX would determine another opportunity based on vehicle readiness, range requirements, regulatory conditions and other operational factors.

Until liftoff occurs, the September 28 date should therefore be treated as the current target.

Key Flight 14 facts

Latest status of the Starship launch

The current status is straightforward: SpaceX is preparing Starship Flight 14 for its September 28 launch attempt from Starbase.

The mission has completed its major prelaunch rehearsal, and the Starship vehicle is prepared for the scheduled attempt.

Flight 14 is designed to become the first Starship mission to reach orbit. It will also deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites into an operational orbit.

The planned flight profile calls for Starship to travel around Earth about six times before conducting a deorbit maneuver and returning toward the Pacific Ocean.

Super Heavy will follow a separate return trajectory toward a planned Gulf of Mexico splashdown.

The launch remains a test flight, even though it carries an operational payload. SpaceX will use the mission to collect data from orbital operations, satellite deployment, thermal protection and atmospheric reentry.

The most important confirmed development is that Starship is now positioned for its first planned orbital attempt.

The outcome cannot be declared until the vehicle actually flies.

Are you watching Starship Flight 14 today? Share your thoughts on the mission and stay tuned for the latest confirmed launch updates.