SpaceX Sets First Starship Orbital Test Date, Sprinting Toward 26-Starlink Deployment
TL;DR
SpaceX is targeting Sep 22 for Starship’s first orbital flight, lifting 26 Starlink V3 satellites into a ~275 km Earth orbit with the upper stage attempting six orbits over ~10 hours. The first stage will not return to the launch site, instead aiming for a Gulf of Mexico landing to enable potential future catches. Upgrades to heat-shield tiles and relight reliability have been implemented, and two reused tiles are planned on Ship 41 as part of ongoing rocket-reusability tests, with the flight awaiting regulatory approval.
- SpaceX declares Starship ready for orbit, sets launch date next week Ars Technica
- SpaceX's Next Starship Flight To Generate Revenue Aviation Week
- SpaceX Is About to Put Its Starship Rocket to Work for the First Time. This Is What's Riding on the High-Stakes Launch inc.com
- SpaceX Readies For Starship Flight 14 Next Week, Musk Plans Ship Catch Investor's Business Daily
- SpaceX will try to put Starship in orbit for the first time on September 22 TechCrunch
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