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(https://www.france24.com/science) Science     SpaceX to attempt putting Starship rocket into Earth orbit for first time  Science   Space X on Monday will attempt to launch its Starship rocket from Texas into Earth's orbit in a 10-hour flight which would deploy 26 Starlink satellites and would represent a milestone in the development of the massive launch vehicle. But the success of the launch is uncertain, as many previous tests have failed.   Issued on: 28/09/2026 - 08:50  Modified: 28/09/2026 - 08:57   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    3 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       (The Starship 41 sits atop Super Heavy v3 Booster 21 at SpaceX launch complex, as preparations continue for the 14th test flight in Starbase, Texas, US, September 27, 2026.)  The Starship 41 at the SpaceX launch complex, as preparations continue for the 14th test flight in Starbase, Texas on September 27, 2026.        © Steve Nesius, Reuters    Three years after its first test flight, (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/spacex/) SpaceX 's (https://www.france24.com/en/technology/20250827-spacex-redeems-failed-launches-with-successful-megarocket-test-flight) Starship rocket will attempt Monday to enter Earth's orbit, a key step in the development of the massive launch vehicle designed for future missions to the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/moon/) Moon and (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/mars/) Mars . On the heels of its (https://www.france24.com/en/technology/20260603-spacex-record-75-bn-stock-market-debut) high-profile initial public offering in June , (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/elon-musk/) Elon Musk 's SpaceX plans to shift into high gear with a 14th test flight featuring ambitious goals. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/technology/20260612-spacex-why-chinese-investors-are-banned-from-the-biggest-ipo-history) SpaceX: Why Chinese investors are banned from the biggest IPO in history  The test, expected to last about 10 hours, will involve the upper stage of the experimental rocket flying into Earth orbit and deploying 26 next-generation (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260703-ukraine-russia-faces-challenge-jamming-starlink) Starlink satellites there – if all goes well.  But the launch, scheduled to take place in (https://www.france24.com/en/video/20260611-us-government-set-to-transfer-large-tract-of-nature-reserve-land-to-starbase) Texas starting at 7:15am local time (1215 GMT), could hold surprises, as multiple previous tests (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250528-spacex-starship-rocket-mars) have ended in spectacular explosions .  After several years of development and testing in Texas, SpaceX began flying the rocket in its full configuration in 2023, deliberately following suborbital trajectories, which are safer and less challenging. Watch more (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20260909-whose-space-is-it-europe-scrambles-as-us-rules-satellite-race) Whose space is it? Europe scrambles as US rules satellite race  Numerous modifications have been made to the black-and-silver behemoth, the largest and most powerful object ever to have flown. But immense technical challenges remain before Starship – which Musk hopes to make fully reusable – can be considered ready for commercial flights or to reach the Moon or Mars. 28,000km/h With this new test, SpaceX hopes to usher in an "exciting new phase" of development that will include, among other things, tests of refuelling the rocket in orbit. The spacecraft will be launched Monday on a suborbital trajectory and, if all systems are go, then perform a second burn to reach orbit. "That's the hardest part," requiring "more forces and more complex calculations", explained Kathleen Curlee, a senior analyst at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260826-spacex-to-build-100-billion-rocket-launch-complex-in-southern-louisiana) SpaceX to build $100 billion rocket launch facility in southern Louisiana  To reach the necessary altitude and speed, "the rocket has to do different things when it's experiencing different levels of gravity", she told AFP.  On this flight, SpaceX is aiming for a circular orbit about 275km (171 miles) above the Earth, requiring a speed of about 28,000km/hour. If it achieves that, the spacecraft will then attempt to deploy satellites designed to expand the company's already massive satellite internet constellation. Public expectations The plan calls for the rocket to finish its journey in the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/pacific-ocean/) Pacific Ocean after orbiting the Earth six times. The huge first-stage booster, called "Super Heavy", will fall shortly after launch into waters of the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX does not plan to catch it this time (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/science/20241014-spectacular-landing-spacex-catches-giant-starship-booster-with-mechanical-arms) using huge mechanical arms.  Watch more (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/science/20241014-spectacular-landing-spacex-catches-giant-starship-booster-with-mechanical-arms) Spectacular landing: SpaceX catches giant Starship booster with mechanical arms  From an engineering point of view, "just achieving flight and getting data" would be considered a success, Curlee said. 'Space being weaponised': A purely civilian system can be 'repurposed' for military capabilities To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-check)    Manage my choices (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-edit)      One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again   ('Space being weaponised': A purely civilian system can be 'repurposed' for military capabilities)  Cover image:                    © France 24  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        12:30   ('Space being weaponised': A purely civilian system can be 'repurposed' for military capabilities)     But spectators and investors have different expectations.  "They need to have flashy tests" because anything less would be seen as a failure, she added. The development of Starship has faced repeated delays, and a Chinese company has recently made progress in the field of reusable rockets. Still, SpaceX continues to dominate the global space launch market, thanks to its (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251010-europe-needs-reusable-rockets-to-catch-musk-s-spacex-esa-chief) partially reusable Falcon rockets , and has made risk-taking its mantra. Whether or not it is successful, this 14th test flight will be followed the same week by three other SpaceX rocket launches, one of which will carry a crew of astronauts to the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/international-space-station/) International Space Station . (FRANCE 24 with AFP)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260910-macron-calls-for-shared-governance-space-paris-space-summit) (Le président français Emmanuel Macron (au centre) s'entretient avec le PDG de Dassault Aviation, Éric Trappier (au centre-droite), devant une maquette du projet de véhicule spatial "Dassault Vortex" l)  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)      (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260910-macron-calls-for-shared-governance-space-paris-space-summit) (Macron calls for 'shared governance' of space at Paris summit) Macron calls for 'shared governance' of space at Paris summit    France    (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260909-passengers-or-pilots-europe-looks-to-challenge-us-dominance-in-space-sector-with-%E2%82%AC10-billion-plan) (French European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet stands next to President Emmanuel Macron during the space summit in Paris on September 9, 2026.)   (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260909-passengers-or-pilots-europe-looks-to-challenge-us-dominance-in-space-sector-with-%E2%82%AC10-billion-plan) ('Passengers or pilots?' Europe looks to challenge US dominance in space sector with €10 billion plan) 'Passengers or pilots?' Europe looks to challenge US dominance in space sector with €10 billion plan    Europe          Today's top stories   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260927-france-s-far-right-gains-ground-in-indirect-senate-elections) (France’s far-right National Rally gains ground in Senate, forms group for first time) France’s far-right National Rally gains ground in Senate, forms group for first time   France     (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260928-pope-to-speak-on-united-eu-from-french-border-town) (Pope Leo to speak on EU integration from French border town of Metz) Pope Leo to speak on EU integration from French border town of Metz   France     (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260927-live-pope-leo-xiv-to-hold-open-air-mass-in-lourdes-pilgrimage-site) (Pope Leo understood clergy child sex abuse was 'systemic', survivor says after meeting) Pope Leo understood clergy child sex abuse was 'systemic', survivor says after meeting   France     (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260927-uk-police-evacuate-homes-near-air-base-used-by-us-arrest-men-on-suspected-explosives-offenses) (UK police arrest 5 men, counter-terror squad probes ‘major incident’ near air base used by US forces) UK police arrest 5 men, counter-terror squad probes ‘major incident’ near air base used by US forces   Europe   (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)      (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260927-trump-expects-iran-talks-next-week-after-rejecting-seven-day-truce-proposal) (Trump expects Iran talks next week after rejecting seven-day truce proposal) Trump expects Iran talks next week after rejecting seven-day truce proposal   Middle East        Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)           Most read   1 (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260926-trump-reportedly-rejects-iran-s-7-day-plan-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz) Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz    Middle East       2 (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260926-thousands-march-in-madrid-to-protest-eviction-of-87-year-old-woman) Thousands march in Madrid to protest eviction of 87-year-old woman    Europe   (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        3 (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260926-live-more-than-half-a-million-expected-at-pope-s-open-air-mass-in-paris) Pope Leo XIV prays for France at Lourdes pilgrimage site   As it happened  Europe       4 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260925-argentina-poverty-rate-nearly-one-in-three-milei) Argentina's poverty rate climbs to nearly one in three under Milei    Americas       5 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260926-cnn-removed-from-trump-press-pool-despite-judge-order-to-reinstate-white-house-access) CNN removed from Trump press pool despite judge order to reinstate White House access    Americas       6 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260925-i-hope-france-wakes-up-young-catholics-flood-the-streets-for-pope-leo-s-paris-visit) ‘I hope France wakes up’: Young Catholics flood the streets for Pope Leo's Paris visit   On the ground  France         Keywords for this article (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) (USA) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/spacex/) (SpaceX) SpaceX  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/elon-musk/) (Elon Musk) Elon Musk  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/tech-1/) (Tech) Tech  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/space/) (Space) Space       Happening now (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) France  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/pope-leo-iv/) Pope Leo XIV  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/catholic-church/) Catholic Church  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/religion/) religion  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) USA    International (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-kingdom/) United Kingdom  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/canada/) Canada  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/australia/) Australia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/germany/) Germany  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/india/) India  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/netherlands/) Netherlands  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/south-africa/) South Africa  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/italy/) Italy      About France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/about-us) Who are we?  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