Starship has never reached orbit; its first try is set for Sept 15. Will SpaceX launch Flight 14 by Sept 16?

SpaceX did not launch Starship's 14th test flight by September 16, 2026, pushing back what would be the vehicle's first attempt to reach orbit. Advanced Television reported on September 15 that SpaceX had delayed the launch from its mid-September target at the company's Starbase, Texas facility. The schedule slipped further in the following days: by September 15, TechCrunch reported SpaceX was now targeting September 28 for the flight, a roughly two-week delay from the dates the company had previously discussed with regulators. The mission will attempt Starship's first orbital flight after 13 prior test launches, and will also serve as the vehicle's first revenue-generating mission, carrying an initial batch of next-generation V3 Starlink satellites. SpaceX did not publicly detail a specific technical cause for the delay. The Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control System Command Center had previously listed mid-to-late September dates as possible launch windows before SpaceX itself pushed the target further out. A majority of the Predict Six community, 59%, correctly anticipated that the launch would slip past September 16. The repeated delays extend a pattern that has accompanied Starship's development as SpaceX works toward its first fully successful orbital flight.