SpaceX is gearing up for the next test launch of its Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket in the world, with Flight 14 scheduled for liftoff on Monday, September 28, at 8:15 a.m. EDT (1215 GMT) from Starbase, Texas. This mission marks the vehicle's inaugural attempt to reach orbit and is designed to deploy an operational stack of 26 upgraded Starlink V3 high-speed internet satellites.
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Currently, a wet dress rehearsal is taking place to test the rocket’s systems. Starship was stacked with Booster 21 and Ship 41, and the rehearsal involves fully fueling the rocket on the launch pad to simulate a countdown. SpaceX shared images of the early morning preparations at Starbase and noted that all testing is progressing as planned ahead of the scheduled launch, pending regulatory approval.
If the mission proceeds as anticipated, Flight 14 will be significantly longer than previous suborbital launches, lasting almost 10 hours compared to the typical one-hour duration of earlier tests. Booster 21 is expected to perform a soft splashdown at sea after stage separation, while Ship 41 aims to complete approximately six orbits before concluding its mission.
SpaceX is closely monitoring conditions as it prepares for the 75-minute launch window opening on September 28. Regulatory approval is still pending for this crucial flight.