SpaceX's Starship launching to orbit for first time ever today
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SpaceX's Starship will attempt its first orbital launch on Sept. 28, deploying 26 Starlink satellites.
SpaceX's Starship megarocket is scheduled for its 14th test flight on Sept. 28, aiming to reach orbit for the first time. The launch window opens at 8:15 a.m. EDT from Starbase, Texas. The Ship upper stage will deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, circle Earth six times, and splash down off Chile after nearly 10 hours. The Super Heavy booster will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico about seven minutes after liftoff. No tower catch is planned for this test. Previous flights were suborbital; the longest lasted 65 minutes and targeted the Indian Ocean.
What commenters are saying
Commenters shared viewing options, noting the official stream is only on X, with many recommending NASASpaceflight or Everyday Astronaut for better commentary. There was disagreement about the use of chopstick catches versus splashdowns this flight; the article mentions splashdowns but some commenters initially expected catches. Some commenters celebrated the engineering achievement, while others noted Saturn V lifted similar mass decades ago. Others were skeptical of the 2028 Artemis lunar landing timeline, with one commenter linking a detailed critique.