Why SpaceX's Starship will fly around the Earth 6 times during Flight 14

Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing to send Starship on its most ambitious test flight yet, with the world's most powerful rocket set to attempt something it has never done before; go around Earth.Starship Flight 14 is targeted for September 22, with the launch window opening at 5:45 pm IST from SpaceX's Starbase in Texas, pending regulatory approval.If the plan goes ahead, the spacecraft will spend nearly 10 hours in space and complete about six orbits of Earth before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.This will be the 14th test flight of Starship and its first attempt to enter a stable orbit. The previous flight in July followed a suborbital path, reaching space but not circling Earth.HOW WILL STARSHIP DO SIX TRIPS AROUND THE EARTH?Starship is a two-part rocket system. The Super Heavy booster provides the thrust needed to lift the vehicle, while the Starship spacecraft continues towards orbit. SpaceX's mega rocket Starship makes a test flight from Starbase. (Photo: AP) After separation, SpaceX plans to test the Super Heavy's boostback and landing manoeuvres before the booster splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico.The Starship spacecraft is expected to reach an altitude of about 275 km, after which it will then make approximately six trips around Earth before carrying out a controlled deorbit and re-entry, ending with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.Neither vehicle is planned to be caught by the launch tower on this flight.The six orbits are crucial for this flight as they give SpaceX a much longer window to test Starship in space.Over roughly 10 hours, engineers can check its ability to remain in orbit, perform manoeuvres and operate its systems before testing the difficult journey back through Earth's atmosphere. SpaceX's mega rocket Starship makes a test flight from Starbase. (Photo: AP) 26 MORE STARLINK TO GO TO SPACEThe flight has another major task of deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites while Starship is in orbit.This will provide a real-world test of Starship's ability to deliver payloads during an orbital mission.SpaceX Starship Flight 14 will be the first Starship into orbit, and the first to deploy operational @Starlink V3 satellites.Flight 14 is going to include a lot of firsts:First Starship flight intended to reach orbit. Flights 1–13 were deliberately suborbital.First pic.twitter.com/OsU0tK40Q2— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) September 17, 2026The spacecraft will also perform its first orbital insertion manoeuvre and later use a single Raptor engine for the deorbit burn.Three of the Starlink satellites will carry cameras to capture additional information about Starship's heat shield, providing data that could help SpaceX assess the vehicle's readiness for future missions.WHY IS SIX ORBITS AN IMPORTANT FEAT?Completing several orbits would test far more than Starship's ability to circle Earth. The mission brings together orbital operations, satellite deployment, a controlled deorbit burn, atmospheric re-entry and splashdown in a single flight.The final phase, however, is particularly important. SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight. (Photo: AP) Reaching orbit is only part of the challenge; Starship must also survive the intense heating of re-entry and return under control.The larger goal is to make Starship a fully reusable launch system capable of carrying satellites, cargo and eventually people to orbit, while supporting future missions to the Moon and Mars.Flight 14 is therefore a crucial step from reaching space on short suborbital flights to operating in orbit, and coming back.- EndsPublished On: Sep 17, 2026 13:05 IST