Starship Aims for First Orbital Flight

SpaceX is preparing to launch Starship into orbit for the first time, a significant milestone in its development. The launch window is set to open at 8:15 a.m. ET on Monday, September 28, and will remain open for 75 minutes.

Yesterday, SpaceX shared photos of Starship fully stacked on the launch pad at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, and confirmed it is on track for a Monday launch, pending regulatory approval. Engineers will conduct a wet dress rehearsal today to practice fueling and countdown procedures.

Reaching orbit is a key step for Starship, as it must demonstrate full reusability and commercial viability. Unlike previous test flights, which followed suborbital trajectories, this mission will see Starship fly to an altitude of 171 miles (275 kilometers) and remain in orbit for 10 hours, circling the planet about six times before splashing down off the coast of Chile.

If all goes according to plan, the Super Heavy booster will ignite its engines at T-0 and propel Starship skyward. About two minutes after liftoff, the booster will separate and perform a flip maneuver followed by a boostback burn to reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Following stage separation, Starship will attempt its first orbital insertion burn, igniting its engines for about 19 seconds to reach orbital velocity. Once that burn is complete, the engines will cut off, and Starship will begin its first journey around the planet.

Roughly 10 minutes into the flight, Starship will deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, which will operate as part of the Starlink megaconstellation. These satellites will add 26 terabits per second of capacity. After deployment, they will use onboard propulsion to raise their orbits. Starship will then attempt a controlled reentry, descent, and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.