SpaceX assembles full Starship stack ahead of debut orbital attempt
SpaceX lifted the Starship upper stage, designated Ship 41, onto Super Heavy booster B21 at Starbase, Texas, early Wednesday, completing a 124-meter-tall rocket. The company may perform a fueling test before targeting launch no earlier than Sept. 28, pending FAA approval. The mission would deploy 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites on a nearly 10-hour flight.
The upper stage, Ship 41, was transported from its production site roughly three miles west of the pad, a journey taking nearly 5.5 hours before the launch tower’s chopsticks lifted and placed it atop Booster B21. The completed vehicle stands 124 meters tall, with the ship itself measuring 52 meters.
Prior to launch, SpaceX may conduct a full fueling test, though local authorities have not yet announced road or beach closures for such an event. The FAA has posted a temporary flight restriction for the area lasting through Oct. 7. If cleared, the mission could lift off Sept. 28, carrying 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites on a nearly 10-hour flight.
This flight could mark a pivotal shift in space access, as a fully reusable super-heavy rocket may drastically lower launch costs. Success could accelerate the deployment of advanced Starlink satellites, potentially expanding high-speed internet to remote regions and boosting commercial space ventures. However, the mission's complexity and regulatory scrutiny mean delays or failures could temper expectations, affecting industry timelines and public confidence in rapid space industrialization.