TEXAS, US — SpaceX is preparing to attempt a major milestone for its giant Starship rocket, with the experimental spacecraft set to make its first attempt at reaching Earth orbit three years after its debut test flight.
The 14th Starship test flight is scheduled for Monday from Texas, with liftoff targeted for 7:15am local time (12:15pm GMT).
The roughly 10-hour mission is designed to push Starship beyond the suborbital test flights used in previous missions and demonstrate whether the spacecraft can reach and operate in orbit.
Starship Targets 28,000km/h
SpaceX plans to launch Starship on a suborbital trajectory before attempting a second engine burn to place the spacecraft into orbit.
The company is targeting a circular orbit approximately 275 kilometres above Earth, requiring the spacecraft to reach speeds of about 28,000 kilometres per hour.
That orbital insertion burn is expected to be one of the most difficult parts of the mission.
Kathleen Curlee, a senior analyst at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said the manoeuvre would involve greater forces and more complex calculations.
The spacecraft will have to adjust its performance as it experiences different levels of gravitational force during the flight, she explained.
26 Starlink Satellites on Board
If the mission progresses as planned, Starship will deploy 26 next-generation Starlink satellites while in orbit.
The test is intended to provide SpaceX with data on orbital operations and help advance technologies needed for future missions.
The company also hopes the new phase of testing will eventually include demonstrations of in-orbit refuelling, a technology considered important for ambitious Moon and Mars missions.
Starship to Orbit Earth Six Times
SpaceX plans for the spacecraft to complete approximately six orbits of Earth before ending its mission over the Pacific Ocean.
The massive Super Heavy booster will separate shortly after launch and fall into waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
Unlike some previous recovery attempts, SpaceX does not plan to catch the booster using the giant mechanical arms installed at its Texas launch facility.
The mission therefore focuses primarily on gathering data from Starship’s orbital flight rather than attempting a full booster recovery.
Starship Still Faces Major Challenges
SpaceX began flying Starship in its full configuration in 2023 after years of development and ground testing in Texas.
Previous flights deliberately followed suborbital trajectories, allowing the company to test the vehicle without attempting the additional challenges associated with orbital insertion.
The vehicle has undergone numerous modifications as SpaceX works towards its long-term goal of making Starship fully reusable.
Several previous test flights have ended in explosions, highlighting the technical difficulties involved in developing a vehicle of Starship’s size and capability.
Moon and Mars Missions Depend on Starship
Starship is central to SpaceX’s plans for future missions beyond Earth orbit.
The company envisions using the spacecraft for missions to the Moon and Mars, while NASA has selected a version of Starship as part of its plans for future lunar exploration.
Reaching orbit reliably is therefore a crucial step before SpaceX can demonstrate the technologies needed for more ambitious missions, including orbital refuelling and repeated reuse.
Investors and Spectators Await Test
The flight comes amid intense public and investor interest in SpaceX’s development programme.
While engineers may regard data collection and incremental progress as important outcomes, Curlee noted that public expectations can be different, with spectators often expecting highly visible demonstrations of success.
SpaceX has continued to pursue an aggressive testing strategy despite repeated delays and setbacks.
The company remains a dominant force in the global launch industry through its partially reusable Falcon rockets, while other countries and companies are also developing reusable launch technologies.
Busy Week Ahead for SpaceX
Whatever happens during the Starship test, SpaceX is scheduled for several other missions during the same week.
Three additional SpaceX rocket launches are planned, including one mission expected to carry astronauts to the International Space Station.
The Starship flight will nevertheless command particular attention as the company attempts to take its biggest and most powerful rocket yet flown into a new phase of testing — orbital flight.
