SpaceX Delays First Starship Orbital Flight to Sept. 28

SpaceX has pushed back the target date for its next Starship mission, which will mark the vehicle's first attempt to reach orbit.

SpaceX sets new launch target of September 28. Pending regulatory approval, the company now intends to launch its 14th Starship mission as early as September 28. This represents a six-day delay from the previously planned September 22 liftoff. The target time remains 7:15 a.m. local in Texas, or 12:15 UTC, within a 75-minute launch window.

The mission will carry 26 V3 Starlink satellites. The Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage will loft the satellites to an orbit 275 km above Earth. The upper stage is planned to complete six orbits before ending the mission after about 10 hours. Reaching orbit would represent a significant milestone for the program.

Starship's development began with its first test flight on April 20, 2023. The upcoming flight continues a campaign of incremental modifications to the third iteration of both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage. Hardware changes on the booster improve filtering to the engines. Software updates aim to enhance relight reliability.

The booster will not return to the launch site. Instead, the first stage will attempt a controlled landing in the Gulf of Mexico. This decision aligns with the experimental nature of the flight focused on achieving orbital velocity. SpaceX continues to iterate on the vehicle as it works toward operational reliability.

The update was shared on the company's website. No additional details on the precise reason for the six-day shift were provided in the announcement. The mission remains subject to regulatory approval from the FAA before proceeding.