SpaceX Starship receives FAA launch permit, targets first orbital flight Monday

Published Sep 28, 07:18 AM UTC

SpaceX plans to launch its giant Starship rocket early Monday morning, aiming for the vehicle's first orbital flight. The launch window opens at 8:15 AM ET (7:15 AM local time) from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas, lasting 75 minutes. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the launch and re-entry permit for the 14th Starship test flight on September 26. During this mission, SpaceX also intends to deploy 26 new Starlink V3 satellites. Starship is critical to SpaceX's expansion strategy, as the company relies on the rocket to grow its Starlink internet business, which is SpaceX's largest and only profitable segment. SpaceX currently operates about 11,000 active satellites in orbit. CEO Elon Musk stated in an August earnings call that it is not far-fetched for Starlink to handle most global internet traffic in countries where it is licensed. SpaceX completed its largest IPO in June and is valued at about $2 trillion. The Starship-Super Heavy system is designed to be fully reusable, aiming to deliver more cargo to orbit at lower cost. Previous 13 test flights did not target orbit; the 14th aims for orbital flight. SpaceX is also preparing Starship for a major NASA test mission next year to return astronauts to the lunar surface. COO Gwynne Shotwell revealed plans for 'space-based supercomputing' with an AI computing satellite launch in 2027. The new V3 satellites, produced in Redmond, Washington, have double the solar array power and offer faster data rates than previous generations.

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