SpaceX has rescheduled Starship flight 14 for September 28th. This mission is the first planned to put the giant rocket into orbit, having originally been scheduled for September 22nd, but depending on regulatory approvals.
The flight will carry 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The Starship is expected to remain in space for almost ten hours, completing approximately six orbits around the Earth, before returning for a controlled landing in the Pacific Ocean, located west of Chile.
Previously, the 13 Starship missions were conducted in suborbital trajectories. This approach allowed engineers to test the vehicle and collect data without the need to achieve a full orbit.
Launch Details and Objectives
For the September 28th launch, there is a 75-minute window, starting at 7:15 AM local Texas time (which corresponds to 9:15 AM in Brasília time). The company did not provide a justification for the postponement. According to SpaceX, entering orbit will enable the start of the next phase of Starship development, aiming to make it fully and rapidly reusable.
The Starlink V3 satellites will debut in orbit. Each of these satellites was designed to add 1 Tbps of capacity to the network, totaling 26 Tbps with the 26 units. After separation, they will activate their antennas and solar panels, establish communication with the constellation, and use their own thrusters to raise their orbits.
First Stage and Structure Changes
The first stage will also undergo modifications in flight 14. In a previous mission, three of the central engines showed signs of ice obstruction during the return burn, which concluded earlier than expected. During the landing attempt, eight of the 13 planned engines managed to be reignited before the Super Heavy reached the sea. For this next test, SpaceX adjusted the engine filtration system and implemented software changes to increase relight reliability.
After separation, the Super Heavy will execute the return burn and subsequently the landing burn. The plan dictates that the booster will complete its trajectory with a landing in the Gulf, about seven minutes after takeoff. Unlike previous tests, the booster will not be captured by the launch tower this time, as this capture with the structure's arms is scheduled for a later phase of development.
The upper section of the Starship has also received improvements. SpaceX installed extra mechanisms to enhance plate fastening in areas considered more susceptible, altered sections that could allow plasma passage, and incorporated curved parts for evaluation.
Additional Mission Highlights
Three of the Starlink V3 satellites will carry cameras intended to record images of the shield during the flight. Furthermore, the company plans to reuse two plates recovered from Ship 40 on Ship 41, which will be the first time this component is reused on the Starship.
After completing approximately six orbits at an altitude of about 275 kilometers, the spacecraft will perform a deorbit burn using a single Raptor engine. This maneuver is scheduled to occur about nine hours after launch, followed by reentry and descent in the Pacific.