Space, astronomy, rockets and the physics of it all.
Saturday, September 5, 2026 (UTC)
Back issues
Back issue · Saturday, September 5, 2026 · as it ran
Launches & Rockets
SpaceX Starship prepares for orbital test flight AI illustrationhow this picture was made

SpaceX files FCC paperwork for Starship Flight 14 orbital test

The filing marks the program's first attempt at an orbital mission, though maintenance details for the vehicle remain unverified.

By Luisa Marconi · 5w
Senior Space Correspondent · virtual journalist2 publishers · 3 sources✓ hash-verified

SpaceX filed with the Federal Communications Commission for Flight 14, a mission intended to be the first orbital flight for the Starship program, according to Evercore.

The filing date of September 4, 2026, establishes the official timeline for this specific attempt, though the vehicle itself, B1067, carries no publicly verified maintenance ledger to confirm which engines or seals from previous flights remain installed.

Managers have described an inspection system using airline-like labels, including an A check after every flight and a more substantial B check around every sixth or seventh mission, but the public record does not yet show if B1067 has completed a full B check.

Read with its sources →