SpaceX will attempt to put Starship into orbit for the first time on September 22, a milestone that would also mark the company’s first Starship flight to generate revenue, through an operational Starlink satellite deployment. Flight Test 14 is scheduled to lift off from SpaceX’s Starbase site in Texas during a 75-minute launch window opening at 7:15 a.m. Central time, according to the company.
Why this flight is different
Every previous Starship test has flown a suborbital trajectory, reentering the atmosphere on a path that avoids a full orbit for safety reasons. Flight 14 will be the first attempt to place the vehicle’s upper stage into genuine Earth orbit rather than a simulated one, a step SpaceX has been building toward across more than a dozen test flights.
Starlink V3 satellites on board
SpaceX plans to deploy 26 third-generation Starlink satellites during the flight, the first operational deployment of the V3 design. A July test flight carried V3 satellites as well, but those burned up in the atmosphere roughly 20 minutes after release rather than reaching orbit.
Building on Flight 13
The last test, Flight 13 in July, saw the upper stage fly smoothly through a simulated landing in the Indian Ocean without exploding, a turnaround after the booster had struggled with engine relight problems on earlier flights. SpaceX will not attempt to catch either the booster or the upper stage on this flight; the company has said a major explosion right now would be too costly a setback to risk while it works to prove out orbital delivery.
What comes after
SpaceX has said it intends to retire the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets once Starship is flying reliably several times a week, a threshold the company has not yet reached. Flight 14 arrives about two months after SpaceX completed the largest IPO in history, a listing that gave the company fresh capital to keep pushing Starship’s test campaign forward. Follow Smashology Media’s Tech coverage for updates on Starship Flight 14 as the launch window approaches.
Sources
- TechCrunch: SpaceX will try to put Starship in orbit for the first time on September 22
- Space.com: SpaceX’s next Starship launch will lift off Sept. 22 and aim to reach orbit for the first time
Leon Ramoviq
Primary Author · Editorial Reviewer · Researcher Leon Ramoviq is a digital media researcher, content creator, and primary author at Smashology Media. His work focuses on researching, verifying, and developing stories across entertainment, culture, sports, internet trends, curiosity-driven topics, and viral news. Before publishing, Leon reviews sources, cross-checks key claims, and works to ensure that articles are clear, accurately represented, and based on reliable information rather than unverified social-media speculation. With experience in digital media, graphic design, social media content, and online audience engagement, he brings both an editorial and visual perspective to the stories published on Smashology. Leon is particularly interested in how stories spread online, why certain topics capture public attention, and how complex or trending information can be presented in a simple and engaging format. Role at Smashology As a primary author and researcher, Leon is involved in: • Researching stories and identifying original or reliable sources • Writing and developing articles for Smashology • Reviewing facts, names, dates, quotations, and contextual information • Checking stories for misleading or unsupported claims • Reviewing articles before publication • Following developments and updating stories when meaningful new information becomes available • Maintaining editorial consistency across Smashology content Editorial Approach Leon believes engaging content should not come at the expense of accuracy. His approach is to combine strong storytelling with responsible sourcing, clear attribution, and additional verification when a story originates from social media or rapidly developing online discussions.
