Starship’s first orbital launch could happen on September 15 — here’s why it’s not official yet

SpaceX's Starship may attempt its first fully orbital flight in mid-September, according to data from CADENA/COMPASS Space Operations, a resource that tracks space mission planning. The tentative date for the Flight 14 mission is no earlier than September 15.

The company has not officially confirmed this date. The estimate comes from internal air traffic management indicators used to coordinate airspace, meaning the schedule could still shift. Earlier reports suggested the launch might slip from late August.

For the upcoming mission, SpaceX is preparing Booster 21 and Ship 41, the latter of which has already undergone a static fire test. Flight 14 is expected to be a major milestone: for the first time, SpaceX aims to put Starship on an orbital trajectory.

In related news, new photos of Ship 40 have emerged following its 13th test flight. The spacecraft made a soft landing in the Indian Ocean on July 24, 2026, and spent about 24 days at sea before being recovered.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has stated that the company's goal is to conduct 30 Starship launches per day by 2030. He acknowledged that this number is "minuscule" compared to the daily volume of commercial airline flights.