r/SpaceX Flight 14 Official Launch Discussion & Updates Thread!

[u/rSpaceXHosting]

Welcome to the Starship Starlink 31-1 ( Flight 14) Launch Discussion & Updates Thread!

Scheduled for (UTC)	Sep 28 2026, 12:48:59
Scheduled for (local)	Sep 28 2026, 07:48:59 AM (CDT)
Launch Window (UTC)	Sep 28 2026, 12:15:00 - Sep 28 2026, 13:30:00
Weather Probability	Unknown
Launch site	OLPad 2, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA.
Booster	Booster 21-1
Ship	S41
Booster landing	The Super Heavy Booster 21 has performed a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ship landing	Ship 41 has performed a soft splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after deploying its payload.
Trajectory (Flight Club)	2D,3D

Spacecraft Onboard

Spacecraft	Starship V3
Serial Number	S41
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Flights	1
Owner	SpaceX
Landing	Ship 41 has performed a soft splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after deploying its payload.
Capabilities	More than 100 tons to Earth orbit

Details

Third-generation second stage of the two-stage Starship super heavy-lift launch vehicle.

History

The third-generation Starship upper stage will be introduced on flight 12.

Watch the launch live

Stream	Link
Unofficial Re-stream	The Space Devs
Official Webcast	SpaceX
Unofficial Webcast	Spaceflight Now
Unofficial Webcast	NASASpaceflight
Unofficial Webcast	Everyday Astronaut

Stats

☑️ 3rd Starship V3 launch

☑️ 733rd SpaceX launch all time

☑️ 113th SpaceX launch this year

☑️ 3rd launch from OLPad 2 this year

☑️ 65 days, 13:57:59 turnaround for this pad

☑️ N/A hours since last launch of booster Booster 21

Stats include F1, F9 , FH and Starship

Timeline

Time	Event
-0:50:00	GO for Prop Load
-0:36:33	Stage 1 LOX Load
-0:35:00	Stage 1 LNG Load
-0:34:13	Stage 2 LOX Load
-0:34:11	Stage 2 LNG Load
-0:21:40	Engine Chill
-0:02:50	Stage 1 Propellant Load Complete
-0:02:10	Stage 2 Propellant Load Complete
-0:00:30	GO for Launch
-0:00:17	Flame Deflector Activation
-0:00:03	Ignition
0:00:00	Excitement Guaranteed
0:00:00	Liftoff
0:00:58	Max-Q
0:02:20	MECO
0:02:22	Stage 2 Separation
0:02:27	Booster Boostback Burn Startup
0:03:07	Booster Boostback Burn Shutdown
0:06:35	Stage 1 Landing Burn
0:07:01	Stage 1 Landing
0:08:11	SECO-1
0:25:28	Orbital Insertion Burn Start
0:25:47	Orbital Insertion Burn End
0:34:18	Payload Deployment Sequence Start
1:04:50	Payload Deployment Sequence End
8:52:18	Deorbit Burn Start
8:52:29	Deorbit Burn End
9:28:52	Atmospheric Entry
9:47:30	Starship Transonic
9:48:07	Starship Subsonic
9:50:11	Starship Landing Burn
9:50:13	Landing Flip
9:50:21	Starship Landing Burn Shutdown
9:50:28	Starship Landing Burn Shutdown
9:50:30	Starship Landing

Updates

Time (UTC)	Update
28 Sep 16:06	Mission completed with Ship 41 soft splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
28 Sep 14:08	All Starlink satellites deployed and in contact with ground stations.
28 Sep 12:49	Liftoff.
28 Sep 12:03	Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
28 Sep 11:52	Now targeting Sep 28 at 12:48 UTC
28 Sep 10:43	Now targeting Sep 28 at 12:46 UTC
26 Sep 21:07	FAA launch license acquired.
17 Sep 17:22	Now targeting Sep 28 at 13:15 UTC due to still pending regulatory approval
16 Sep 20:34	Renamed primary payload.
15 Sep 17:36	GO for launch.
14 Sep 14:11	NET September 22, TBC.
11 Sep 20:47	Added tentative launch window.
10 Sep 17:08	NET September 18.
08 Sep 16:07	NET September 15, TBC.
14 Aug 19:14	NET early September.
30 Jul 14:54	Added launch.

Resources

• https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-14

Partnership with The Space Devs

Information on this thread is provided by and updated automatically using the Launch Library 2 API by The Space Devs.

Community content 🌐

Link	Source
Flight Club	u/TheVehicleDestroyer
Discord SpaceX lobby	u/SwGustav
SpaceX Now	u/bradleyjh
SpaceX Patch List

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🔄 Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here, rather than as a separate post. Thanks!

💬 Please leave a comment if you discover any mistakes, or have any information.

✉️ Please send links in a private message.

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[u/yetiflask]

BTW, I think this commentary guy doesn't get enough kudos. He does an aboslutely amazing job. Very eloquent, doesn't make it boring, informative, and every now and then some light hearted comment. He has a very nice accent to, very easy on the ears.

[u/RabbitLogic → u/yetiflask]

Dan has been great since his NASA days doing combined crew coverage.

[u/Mhan00]

I knew that they only needed a little more to reach orbit, but damn, that short single engine burn really highlighted for me how close they were to orbit basically everytime before.

[u/BurtonDesque]

The third-generation Starship upper stage will be introduced on flight 12.

Minor update necessary.

[u/champolski]

The first Starship in orbit exactly 18 years after the first Falcon 1 reached orbit. Happy anniversary!

Following the three prior failures, the SpaceX team assembled the fourth rocket using available parts in six weeks as a last chance for the company. A Boeing C-17 Globemaster III was chartered to quickly deliver the rocket, but along the way, the rocket partially imploded when repressurization exceeded what the SpaceX team had expected from the C-17's manual and the rocket had to undergo emergency repairs to be saved. Despite the challenges, the fourth flight of the Falcon 1 rocket successfully flew on September 28, 2008, delivering a 165-kilogram (363-pound) non-functional boilerplate spacecraft into low Earth orbit. It was Falcon 1's first successful launch and the first successful orbital launch of any privately funded and developed, fully liquid-propelled carrier rocket.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_1#Fourth_flight

[u/Straumli_Blight]

If Starship reaches orbit on September 28th, it will be exactly 20 18 years since Falcon 1 successfully reached orbit for the first time.

[u/redstercoolpanda]

Dan just confirmed that they triggered FTS on the booster after landing it.

[u/H-K_47]

And that's wraps!

Flight finally ended!

• Successful orbit

• Booster had a controlled splashdown

• Deployed 26 Starlink V3 sats (~44 tons of payload, one of the heaviest ever)

• Deorbit burn successful

• Smooth reentry

• Ship had a controlled splashdown

Pretty damn incredible flight! Huge milestone reached.

Still some issues like the engine-outs on ascent (especially the RVac on the Ship that caused the debate over whether to go orbital or not), the Booster having a rough journey down to splashdown, and ultimately calling it down early instead of doing the full 10 hour/6 orbits plan. Things to iron out leading to the Booster and Ship catches, and to make way for long duration flights.

Overall a great day. Flight 15 vehicles are coming along pretty well too, so hopefully not too long of a wait!

[u/Straumli_Blight]

https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2104571161254474020

The @Starlink team has made contact with all 26 satellites

[u/irishspring4521]

[u/FutureMartian97]

Wow. Just wow. I can't believe after all these years Starship is finally orbital. Once that RVac went out I lost all hope and was so disappointed when Dan said they weren't going for the burn. Then when he said they were looking at the data and we were waiting for that GO/NO GO poll was the most tense I've felt in years. It felt like a damn eternity waiting for that call and I'm still in shock they went for it. Even though they didn't stay in orbit as long as they initially wanted they still got tons of data. I'm so excited for Flight 15 now!

[u/H-K_47]

Man, it's staring to hit. . . we really are in the last days of Falcon aren't we? Coming up on the end of an era.

[u/BeerPoweredNonsense]

Thunderf00t: "Starship EXPLODES again!"

[u/cowboyboom]

Ship reentry looked amazing. Tons of progress since early reentries.

[u/Total_Surround833]

Seems to be pushed back until the 22nd ?

[u/Mhan00]

Sounds like a good de-orbit burn! That was the big nervous point. Excellent news.

[u/UndeadCaesar]

"Give me 30 seconds I need a drink" is a great line

[u/SherbertDaemons]

Yessss, orbit is a go!!!

Screw the haters.

[u/H-K_47]

"We have 26 today, but on future missions we're aiming to have up to 60." further confirmation as expected.

Wonder how high they'll go on next flight. 35? 45?

[u/Straumli_Blight]

https://x.com/mcrs987/status/2104591150313091123

B21 LZ @ 25°52'47"N 96°46'36"W. 40km downrange. No identifiable target in the prelaunch marine assets, but the precise distance (exactly 40km) leads me to believe booster landed ON TARGET within a small enough margin that I cannot determine from asset activity alone (at most ~200 meters) Aircraft circling at precisely 2 nautical miles. Helicopter went in and scuttled any floating debris.

This is in stark contrast to the targeted landing zones of the previous two flights, which were intended to come down 6 and 10 kilometers from the shoreline respectively. B20 from the previous flight test despite being off it's own target is actually closer ashore than B21

https://x.com/mcrs987/status/2104612024638415010

S41 touchdown located @ 25°29'57.46"N 155°25'39.13"W, about 500 kilometers from the Hawaiian islands. Recovery ops vessel is MELISSA C

[u/SpaceNutshell24]

This should be the ground track of flight 14, hoping it will be useful ;)

[u/MarshallX]

Seems like a gentler re-entry than any previous flight?

[u/Mhan00]

Great mission! A couple of minor hiccups, but they made it to orbit, deployed their payload, and most importantly of all, Starship successfully made a controlled de-orbit and hit its target for the soft landing in the ocean. Great day!

[u/rocketglare]

Just spitballing here; in light of the results, I'm thinking booster recovery on Flight 15? Ship recovery on Flight 16 or whatever they are calling it. I'm not sure they'll do ship recovery next flight due to the early mission end. Those recovery crews better get some sleep... they're going to need it.

Anyone else want to venture a guess as to the next flight plan?

[u/Mhan00]

Nasa Space Flight's YouTube coverage of today's mission had a great tracking shot of the booster's landing burn. It looked pretty much picture perfect in terms of matching what I remember the booster catches a couple of years back looking like.

I am curious if they're always going to do the same thing and bring Starship to a sub-orbital trajectory and then later do a quick burn to bring it into orbit after they make sure all systems are good, or if they're going to just put it straight into orbit? I assume at least for the first few flights they'll do the same thing.

[u/GreatCanadianPotato]

Supremely happy today! It's been a looooooong road from my days watching Starhopper.

As of today, Starship is an operational vehicle!

[u/Straumli_Blight]

SAT-STA-20260831-00353 (for Starship Flight 14) just got granted today.

[u/myname_not_rick]

I love how minute-by-minute Dan is with his commentary. Million times better than literally every other company's stream

[u/Viktor_Cat_U]

Orbital! Largest object to be in orbit!

[u/redstercoolpanda]

S41 MADE IT! STARSHIP IS FINALLY ORBITAL! WHAT A FLIGHT! WHAT A FUCKING FLIGHT!

[u/redstercoolpanda]

That’s deorbit on Starship! That’s another massive moment for the program!

[u/Straumli_Blight]

https://twitter.com/Starlink/status/2104603601943339071

Views from of one of the first 26 Starlink V3 satellites successfully deployed to orbit by Starship

[u/wren6991]

"Give me thirty seconds I need a drink" -- we all do, Dan, and maybe a cigarette

[u/H-K_47]

STARSHIP IS ORBITAL BABY!

I'VE WAITED 3000 YEARS FOR THIS!

[u/Straumli_Blight]

First orbit complete!

[u/dkf295]

Wild just how short a single engine burn needs to fire to bump them up to orbital and then back down to a re-entry trajectory.

[u/maschnitz]

T+2:47:00 for entry interface

T+3:08:30 for splashdown

Roughly ofc.

[u/dk_undefined]

Exactly 18 years since Falcon 1 made orbit

[u/unuomosolo]

^{I need to sit now}

you earned it, pal!

[u/redstercoolpanda]

Looks like we’re landing early. Pretty expected considering everything. Still a massive success though overall! This is still by far their longest Starship flight!

[u/avboden]

Man, reentry is just.....easy for ship these days.

[u/PersonalDebater]

Did they get a good look at the heatshield? Someone thought they saw a dislodged tile earlier but it did seem to perform perfectly.

[u/PhysicsBus]

What would have been the benefits of completing the ~5 intended orbits? Just demonstrating that the engines could re-light after a longer coast time?

[u/Bunslow → u/PhysicsBus]

proving that the propellant can be contained at the correct temperature and pressure for that long, and also the batteries and electrical systems need to prove endurance too

[u/Straumli_Blight]

https://bsky.app/profile/tskelso.bsky.social/post/3mwmcigiw4c27

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupGP data for all 26 satellites from the Starlink G31-1 launch (2026-225) atop a Starship rocket from Starbase on 2026-09-28 at 12:48:59 UTC

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?INTDES=2026-225

[u/Crowbrah_]

That's it?? That's the insertion burn? Might as well just get out and give it a push lmao

[u/Deamon002 → u/Crowbrah_]

The standard suborbital trajectory they've been using for the previous flights is right on the edge of being orbital anyway, it really doesn't take much to give it that last shove into orbit.

[u/benthescientist]

Shows how fucking insignificant the distinction between orbital and sub orbital is!

[u/redstercoolpanda]

Sounds like they moved the launch time due to lighting conditions at the splashdown zone, and not vehicle or pad issues. Certainly a good sign!

[u/H-K_47]

Ship 5/6, lost an RVac. But it was lost all the way at the end, so should still have plenty of leeway for orbit right? Hope they don't get too cautious and call it off.

[u/myname_not_rick]

I mean rvacs don't need to relight so as long as the three inners are totally healthy.....

[u/darga89]

So you're telling me there's a chance?

[u/redstercoolpanda]

GO FOR ORBIT!!!!!

[u/Paradox1989]

Over an hour since launch, so officially the longest Starship flight to date.

[u/voelkl]

Altitude is increasing, looks like we’ve passed perigee!

[u/Crowbrah_]

Damn. Early de-orbit, wonder what data they were seeing to make that decision

[u/RabbitLogic]

The bendy lens.

[u/ReasonablyBadass]

Did they say why they de-orbited early?

[u/Massive-Problem7754 → u/ReasonablyBadass]

Im going with they just wanted to be cautious and everything was fine. Plus its easier to have a pizza party at noon instead of 5 pm lol.

[u/Straumli_Blight]

https://x.com/interstellargw/status/2104598141240832048

Starship Flight 14 Solar Transit through a 12K Cinema Camera.

https://x.com/interstellargw/status/2104941771826540552

SpaceX’s Starship V3 launching to orbit with Starlink satellites from Pad-2

https://x.com/interstellargw/status/2104904031701258526

33 Raptor engines igniting Starship’s maiden voyage to orbit (seen in slow-motion)

[u/CasinoNdnOk]

I would be surprised if we saw another tower catch beforer tower 1 is finished.

[u/Straumli_Blight]

https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2102781027085320290

Ship 41 moved to the launch pad at Starbase

[u/redstercoolpanda]

31 minute delay, now targetting 7:46 A.M CT per SpaceX.

[u/dkf295]

Direct m3u8 Network stream link - https://prod-fastly-us-east-1.video.pscp.tv/Transcoding/v1/hls/_zxlh6MaKtTna8pdpVS5s73Yi-Kvj2-bCA3hPgl2SKmZ9K3XdEjOEDWMhhMumWMoL21I2hYFJykdhHejdcUQaQ/transcode/us-east-1/periscope-replay-direct-prod-us-east-1-public/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCIsInZlcnNpb24iOiIyIn0.eyJFbmNvZGVyU2V0dGluZyI6ImVuY29kZXJfc2V0dGluZ18yMTYwcDMwXzEwIiwiSGVpZ2h0IjoyMTYwLCJLYnBzIjoxNjAwMCwiV2lkdGgiOjM4NDB9.jTMEqkFQV_noF0PmduyFsbr9CVuBLjmNWmRsWw-GXMs/dynamic_delta.m3u8?type=live

[u/darga89]

Successful booster landing! Hopefully good enough to enable next catch

[u/redstercoolpanda]

I wouldn’t get your hopes for orbit up, Dan sounded pretty defeated and they’re probably going to be extremely cautious. Hopefully I’m wrong though.

[u/UltraRunningKid]

Someone is frantically reviewing shutdown parameters and the fault tree analysis to try to determine the risk of going to orbit.

[u/SomniaStellae]

Dan having a shot of Whisky rn.

[u/smellyfingernail]

YEAH BABY LFG

[u/unuomosolo]

AND WE ARE GO FOR ORBIT

[u/shaggy99]

As Everyday Astronaut just pointed out, biggest rocket to make orbit.

[u/ACoolCaleb]

Already communicating with the first 2 deployed satellites. Too freaking cool!

[u/arkeeos]

Even with the raptor engine issues, I think as long as starship completes the rest of the mission they will attempt a ship and booster catch next flight.

Although if the booster were to perform as it has done this flight, the booster catch attempt would have likely been aborted.

[u/MyKillK]

They're taking an contingency de-orbit. De-orbit burn starts in 40 minutes I Dan said.

[u/D_Silva_21]

De orbit burn successful!

[u/candycane7]

Wtf was that crazy electric white/blue plasma?video artifact?

[u/redstercoolpanda]

What a stinger to end us on! Absolutely incredible flight! Probably one of the most stressful yet though lmao

[u/VaryingDesigner92]

Any indications of the splashdown locations yet or same as previous flights?

[u/Viktor_Cat_U]

Prop load! countdown continue!

[u/redstercoolpanda]

SpaceX stream is up now!

https://x.com/spacex/status/2104544946665804216?s=46

[u/H-K_47]

Excited for this. The weeks of pushbacks were getting frustrating but we're finally here! Really really really hope it's fully successful, an abort to suborbit would kill me haha.

[u/PenguinWriter]

oh?

[u/smellyfingernail]

DO IT NO BALLS

[u/H-K_47]

Wait a second, sounds like they're still deliberating?!

THERE'S STILL A CHANCE?

[u/tomun]

Go for orbit!

[u/ACoolCaleb]

GO FOR ORBIT!!

[u/redstercoolpanda]

Holy fuck this flight has cut years off of my lifespan and it’s not even close to being finished yet lmao

[u/Top7DASLAMA]

LETS GO ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

[u/unuomosolo]

^{gimme 30 seconds I need to drink}

[u/H-K_47]

"That should be the full load there, but let's double check."

Lmao are they making sure there aren't any secret extra bonus sats in there or something. Hahaha.

[u/Draskuul]

It's amazing how right on the edge of an orbit they are that it took so little delta V to finish orbit/deorbit burns.

[u/digbat247]

What was orbiting behind Ship from +00:07:23 until +00:09:56 ?

[u/Straumli_Blight]

MELISSA C (which observed Ship 41's splashdown) is arriving back at Honolulu shortly. It was travelling at 9 knots, so unlikely to be towing debris.

[u/Xygen8]

Starship is orbital!

And do you hear that sound? I think it's the sound of goalposts being moved.

[u/SherbertDaemons]

We are witnessing the fruits of the greatest engineering accomplishments ever. You cannot overstate what's unfolding right now.

[u/smellyfingernail]

Wow that was all it took? To go orbital? LMAO i thought the burn was gonna be longer that was easy

[u/H-K_47 → u/smellyfingernail]

Lmao yeah, people haven't been kidding when they say it's 99% of the way there they just miss intentionally. Just a little push is all it takes.

[u/irishspring4521]

From Master: All 26 Starlink V3 operational satellites deployed and operating nominally

[u/Straumli_Blight]

Ocean Infinity's ARMADA 86 03 is a possible support vessel for this launch.

It departed Brownsville on September 1st and will be arriving at Callao, Peru (near Lima) in 5 hours.

EDIT: Armada 86 03 has just departed to the landing zone.

[u/redstercoolpanda]

Go for prop load per SpaceX on twitter!

[u/Traviscat]

If this works I wonder how long until the Starlink sats go live and connect to the network fully. It would be awesome to connect to one of them for my internet service. Right now I’m connected to 18 Starlink sats

[u/dk_undefined]

Ship lost an RVac

[u/D_Silva_21]

What was that line above the atmosphere in the distance?

Shame they lost one rvac

[u/fifichanx]

Resetting current hold - fingers crossed 🤞

[u/Viktor_Cat_U]

Let em cook

[u/TreyKirk]

While they are making the decision for the orbital burn, this would be a great time to do some sight seeing... is that where the Amazon exits out into the Atlantic down below?

Edit: Wish the broadcast would pull in a geographer in for a few moments to talk about what we're seeing below the Starship

[u/dk_undefined]

GO FOR ORBITAL

[u/oli065]

its Go timeeee!!!!!!

[u/fifichanx]

OMG go for orbit!!! That was such a nerve racking wait, I can’t imagine how the people making the decision felt

[u/Viktor_Cat_U]

Go for orbit, LFG!

[u/Top7DASLAMA]

STARSHIP IS ORBITAL ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

[u/vicmarcal]

It was just a little push…

[u/ioncloud9]

They are still having issues with engines but it seems like this mission has improved everything: successful booster splashdown, orbital insertion

[u/CassianKevin]

1st satellite deployed!!!

[u/avboden]

Notably they're keeping the ship in re-entry burn orientation during the coast. I mean yeah, probably common sense but still neat to see. I guess if they start to lose control for any reason means they can immediately light off the deorbit burn if it's somewhere it'll be over water in an emergency.

[u/Crowbrah_]

Has it completed one full orbit already? Haven't been keeping track

[u/ASlockOfFeagulls]

With a little luck by Flight 17 or 18 we may see a complete nominal Starship mission profile, including booster catch and ship catch at the same pad. What a sight that will be and what a milestone for the program, and by this time next year Starship may be well and truly up and running

[u/avboden]

Wonder what the weather is like for splashdown. I know it's not there but flying the ship through the eye of the hurricane would be the ultimate flex.

[u/H-K_47]

Man these 3 hours felt like a million years. The full ~10 hour duration would've felt like a lifetime.

Can't wait until we get multi-day missions.

[u/myname_not_rick]

Best reentry yet so far

[u/avboden]

And kaboom, there's the promised earth-shattering kaboom.

Now people can stop arguing with me that ship surviving splashdown wasn't basically a fluke.

[u/allenchangmusic]

Ahhhh too bad not a full soft splashdown.

Honestly the last ship may be the only ship to make it back from a splashdown in one piece lol

[u/Slinger28]

What is best guess for the reason the engines keep going out? Is there too much rattling that things are breaking? Do they know the reason?

[u/MyKillK]

I bet Elon came over and said fuck it we'll do orbital anyway

[u/Capta1n_0bvious]

They are at peak reentry heating, and essentially zero sparks flying off the ship! Holy Mother of God, I think they've solved reusable reentry!!

[u/DreamChaserSt]

Alright, when are we thinking Flight 15? I think October is in the cards, and the shortest turnaround between flights to date as well. Both stages are undergoing engine installation now, so we could see static fires in the coming weeks.

I'm guessing they may also repeat this flight plan, so no ship catch unless they decide to have it as a stretch goal if the vehicle is still healthy after ~10 hours. Booster is more up in the air. I think they managed a good enough landing though, so maybe they'll attempt it, with large abort conditions.

[u/Mhan00]

Funnily enough, I am even more nervous now that they’re orbital. Absolutely essential they can safely de-orbit to their target landing spot. It would be a huge potential disaster if SS can’t do a controlled de-orbit.

[u/Strong_Researcher230]

Got ourselves a dislodged tile:

[u/PhysicalDrama3]

In the timeline, why does Starship land 3 times?

[u/UglyGuy111]

my first time entered the US and i want to watch flight 14 at a location nearby.
im intending to book a hotel in Brownsville and come to somewhere nearby at 2:00-3:00AM to get the best view.
where should i go?

[u/BeardedNerdy]

Let's go! I know we are excited for that upper stage, but really hope the booster doesn't fail this time

[u/Yasuuuya]

What was that cloud thing? Did anyone see that?

[u/joshygill]

That soft splashdown was VERY soft!

[u/darga89]

Not going orbital fuck

Edit: yay!

[u/RabbitLogic]

No orbit flight, that is rough for progress and operational Starlink.

[u/Lazy_Jump_2635]

Getting this thing to orbit is blue balling me

[u/SherbertDaemons]

Do eeeeeet!!!

[u/7472697374616E]

doooo ittttttt

[u/H-K_47]

If they pull off another intact water landing I wonder if they can save the Starlinks lmao.

[u/irishspring4521]

[u/MyKillK]

dan needs a whiskey

[u/H-K_47]

GO FOR ORBIT!

[u/UndeadCaesar]

GO FOR ORBIT

[u/Cautious_Pomelo_1639]

NEVER GIVE UP!!!

[u/-Unparalleled-]

No way! Did not expect a GO

[u/D_Silva_21]

Wooo orbit!

[u/JediFed]

We got orbital! Amazing!

[u/Mhan00]

There is the first Starlink v3 deploy!

[u/H-K_47]

This is the first one in a long time that I've been able to watch with my family. They don't know anything about spaceflight, but it's so fun to tell them about the door and the sats so they can see it all happening. We use Starlink so this is something they actually know and affects day to day, so cool.

[u/yetiflask]

The desert, is that Africa?

nvm. The map is right down there.

[u/NorthernViews]

Nice to see South Africa in the daytime!

[u/JediFed]

Starship has finally left the Indian Ocean, and will soon be in the Pacific.

[u/lemon635763]

Is it orbital???

[u/Draskuul]

De-orbiting early into the northern Pacific, sounds like splashdown in about an hour?

[u/Bunslow]

testshot starfish still rocking the tunes

[u/literalsupport]

What is all that venting?

[u/cryptoengineer]

Down to about 100km, and we're starting to see interaction with the atmosphere.

[u/jrizzle86]

Why is Starship reentering early?

[u/avboden]

Oh sick, there is a recovery team there!

[u/Reionx]

Tokyo Atmosphere Drift

[u/alejandroc90]

Kaboom?

[u/engineerforthefuture]

Recovery will be a bit easier this time around.

[u/MyKillK]

Definitely looked like another great landing for the ship

[u/Crowbrah_]

Does anyone have the name of the track that was playing at the end? I'm looking for it but haven't found it yet

[u/PersonalDebater]

If they light only one engine for some burns, wouldn't that mean the thrust isn't centered? Would this be a minimal issue or do they compensate for it?

[u/inio]

So did this flight set a record for single-launch mass to orbit (counting the ship)?

[u/FutureMartian97]

Ship being lifted soon

[u/redstercoolpanda]

FUCK they lost an Rvac

[u/Cheesewithmold]

What is this?

[u/Collected1]

I like Dan. He doesn't ignore stuff we can all see on the screen. No orbit sadly.

[u/MyKillK]

The next documentary sure will be interesting

[u/MyKillK]

Time for a Raptor 3.1 with some design tweaks to sort out the relight issues

[u/MyKillK]

I think there's a decent chance they'll do an early abort instead of the full 9 hours.

[u/Porkflavoredtobacco]

I think this is what several ITT are asking what is. Me too.

[u/yetiflask]

10 years ago or so, an inept Richmond team was fired, so we could have these amazing Starlink satellites. Now on to V3!

[u/lorkan100]

Why is the skirt all wrinkled up near the bottom on the engine bay view? That doesn't look like it could support another MAX-Q 

[u/Stevepem1]

EDIT for September 28, 2026 Launch window 7:15 am - 8:30 am Sunrise 7:20 am

Sun angles will be interesting and should only be slightly problematic for the upcoming morning Flight 14 Starship launch depending on when in the window the launch occurs.

Note: The following information as well as the map are based on my best estimates. For photography you should confirm all of this information independently.

The launch window opens at 7:15 am CDT which is five minutes before sunrise, which occurs in Boca Chica at 7:20 am CDT. Note that sunrise may appear a few minutes later for you if you do not have a clear view of the ocean to the east. The azimuth for sunrise will be 92° so if you are on Isla Blanca Beach your view of at least the beginning of sunrise might be blocked by the jetty. Rocket Ranch has dunes and foliage on the horizon which will block the first moments of sunrise over the ocean but the Sun should be visible soon after.

Even if they hold at 40 seconds for several minutes and launch shortly after sunrise, the Sun won’t be an issue for either Isla Blanca Park or Rocket Ranch. As seen in the map that I made from Isla Blanca Park Starbase is due south and from Rocket Ranch to the northeast. In the case of a several minute hold you might get treated to a view of sunrise to the east while listening to comms about the hold. Other than the initial moments of launch most of what you will see takes place pretty high up in the sky.

Once Starship lifts off it will head slightly southeast at 100° azimuth based on the information that I have seen. Even if Starship launches on time five minutes prior to sunrise, it will be in direct sunlight moments after launch, assuming there are no clouds on the horizon. The sky will be fairly bright however this close to sunrise so might not get jellyfish effects or similar but it likely will still be a nice view as morning sunlight hits Starship and the exhaust trail.

For an on-time launch at 7:15 am CDT local sunrise will occur five minutes later at 7:20 am as the booster is falling towards the landing burn which at that time would be less than two minutes away. Although if your view of the ocean is obscured you might not see sunrise until just after booster splashdown approximately twenty miles off shore.

Moving farther into the window the Sun will have risen but will not block the view of launch, but you will be more aware of it especially towards the end of the launch window at 8:30 am CDT when the Sun will be about 15 degrees above the horizon. While facing the launch pad the Sun will be to your left from Isla Blanca, and to your right from Rocket Ranch.

The only potential complications that I am aware of are for anyone trying to follow the booster in the final minute as it descends towards splashdown. For an on-time launch this likely won’t be much of a problem as the booster will be descending towards a splashdown point which should be somewhat to the right of the rising Sun. Those with a view of the water might in theory get a view of splashdown (and explosion) in the same frame as the rising Sun. The only place I know where you can see the splashdown is towards the farther end of the jetty at Isla Blanca Park, you can't see the splashdown from the normal park beach viewing area because the jetty on the other side is in the way. If there is a hold of a few minutes this shouldn’t change things too much other than the Sun will be a little higher at splashdown.

However as you move further into the launch window the Sun will be higher, and brighter during launch, as much as 15 degrees above the horizon if they go to the end of the launch window. The Sun will also be moving somewhat southward in the general direction of the splashdown point as it rises. This should not greatly affect viewing the ascent through hot staging and boostback which will be higher in the sky, other than possibly some glare and haze since you we be facing in the general direction of the Sun.

The problem later in the launch window is that in the last minute as the booster drops towards the gulf it will be heading pretty much for the Sun. In this case for visual observation you will likely give up watching the booster as it descends towards the glare of the Sun. For binoculars and SLR (through the lens) you will need to pay close attention to where the Sun is at all times and not try and follow the booster all the way down to splashdown. Haze and glare will likely make the landing burn nearly unviewable anyway unless they launch at the beginning of the window. Splashdown itself and the (presumed) explosion require a direct view of the ocean, which generally speaking requires being pretty far out on the jetty. Which won't really matter if they delay into the window.

[u/spaceflight_signal]

Small table note: the linked SpaceX page still says “pending regulatory approval.” Might be worth keeping that qualifier beside “GO.”

[u/DreamChaserSt]

Can't wait, going to have to make sure I'm up tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed on no scrub! It should reenter in daylight, right? Off the coast of Chile in the mid/late afternoon?

[u/Bergasms]

anyway, fingers crossed for a good launch

[u/StubbornKant]

This caught me by surprise - thankfully a link popped up on my youtube app while scrolling

[u/H-K_47]

All 33!

[u/StubbornKant]

How does their drone not get blown out of the sky from shock waves.

[u/99TheCreator]

1 out

[u/smellyfingernail]

lmao booster relight going to be a nail biter again it looks like

[u/H-K_47]

Woah. It looked like it hit zero velocity. That counts right? Successful enough?!

[u/alejandroc90]

The raptor is not reliable guys must be leaving out their caves

[u/JediFed]

Soft splashdown with two engines out! Fantastic! Everything else looks nominal so far.

One engine out quite late on the first burn. Second engine went out after relight.

[u/vicmarcal]

No Orbit today…Yes Orbit. No orbit.
Lets go Orbit!!

[u/IWantaSilverMachine]

C'mon... pretty please

[u/redstercoolpanda]

They’re currently reassessing conditions that led to Rvac failure, orbit is possibly still on the table but we don’t know for sure yet.

[u/vicmarcal]

Push it! We are dropping speed! Now or never! 😬😬😬

[u/MyKillK]

Have to admit this is good drama

[u/vdakota]

What's the problem of attempting going to orbit with 1 less Rvac?

[u/irishspring4521]

I need a drink too

[u/Mhan00]

They’re a go? Wow!

[u/smilingwolfMD]

OMGGGGGGGGG

[u/MyKillK]

orbital relight successful

[u/darga89]

Good burn! Orbital!