SpaceX to launch Starship into orbit around Earth for first time

SpaceX plans to launch the Starship spacecraft into orbit around Earth for the first time, aiming to complete six orbits before splashing down in the Pacific. The booster will return to the Gulf of Mexico after launch from Texas, marking the 14th test flight of the largest and most powerful spacecraft ever built, designed eventually to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Government & Space, and 25 sources have reported it between 17 Sep 2026 and 4 Oct 2026.