SpaceX rehearses Starship for first planned orbital flight on September 28
A full fueling and systems test clears the way for Starship’s planned orbital debut and first launch of next‑generation Starlink V3 satellites.
SpaceX has completed a wet dress rehearsal for Starship ahead of its 14th test flight, a step toward the vehicle's planned orbital debut. The exercise included loading propellant, powering up the rocket and checking its systems, but it did not involve a launch. Flight 14 is scheduled for September 28, with a 75-minute window starting at 8:15AM Eastern Time. The plan calls for Starship to make six trips around Earth over 10 hours before coming down in the ocean. It is also set to carry 26 Starlink V3 satellites, the first next-generation models slated to join SpaceX's satellite internet constellation.
Why it matters
The completed wet dress rehearsal means SpaceX now has its heavy-lift rocket and its next batch of Starlink V3 satellites aligned for a single mission, tying the vehicle’s first orbital attempt to expansion of its satellite internet network. If the launch proceeds in its 75-minute window on September 28 and Starship completes its multi-orbit trajectory before splashing down in the ocean, SpaceX will have demonstrated both a new flight profile and the first deployment of its updated spacecraft in orbit.
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Sources
- Engadget