Pending regulatory approval, SpaceX is gearing up to launch its 14th Starship mission, targeting September 22. This launch is significant as it marks the first attempt to orbit the experimental vehicle.

The launch is scheduled for 7:15 am local in Texas (12:15 UTC), with a 75-minute window. The timing coincides with sunrise, promising a visually striking moment. The Super Heavy lift rocket will carry 26 V3 Starlink satellites into an orbit 275 km above Earth. The Starship upper stage is set to complete six orbits before landing about 10 hours later.

Reaching orbit would represent a major milestone in SpaceX’s Starship development, with the first test flight in April 2023. Since then, the company has been making iterative improvements, particularly to the first stage, which experienced issues during a recent test flight. Modifications to the engines and software aim to enhance reliability.

In an update, SpaceX stated that during the July 24 test flight, the first stage performed nominally until the terminal phase of the burn, where the three center engines encountered ice clogging, leading to an early end to the maneuver. The booster attempted a landing burn, with 8 of the 13 planned engines reigniting before a hard splashdown in the Gulf.