SpaceX targets Sept. 22 for Starship's first orbital launch attempt

The company said on Sept. 16 it plans to launch the rocket into Earth orbit from Texas on the morning of Sept. 22, pending regulatory approval.

Yara Castellanos

Launch & Spaceflight Correspondent

Stands on 2 placed sources from 2 publishers.

SpaceX prepares for historic Starship launch attempt AI illustrationhow this picture was made

STARBASE, USA, Sept. 16, 2026 - SpaceX scheduled Starship Flight 14 for September 22, its first attempt to reach orbit, with a 75-minute launch window opening shortly after 8 a.m. EDT from Starbase in south Texas, pending regulatory approval.^[1] The company confirmed the plan on September 16.^[2] Related coverage: SpaceX Starship reaches orbit on 14th test flight Impact Insight. A launch window is the span of time when a rocket's target orbit and safety conditions line up, so a delay of even minutes can push an attempt to another day. The link to planetary defense is indirect: a fully reusable heavy rocket could cut the cost of launching large space telescopes and asteroid missions.

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SpaceX scheduled Starship Flight 14 for 2026-09-22, its first attempt to reach orbit, with a 75-minute launch window opening shortly after 8 a.m. EDT from Starbase in south Texas, pending regulatory approval. · beincrypto.com
SpaceX said on 2026-09-16 that it plans to launch its Starship rocket into Earth orbit from Texas on the morning of 2026-09-22 at 14:14 Norwegian time. · AftenpostenNorway

The one we could place publishes from Norway. 1 could not be placed by their address. None is an official body: that part stands on reporting, not on the underlying document or transcript.