SpaceX successfully completed the 14th flight of the Starship program. The mission involved Booster 21 and Ship 41, which lifted off from Starbase Pad 2 at 7:48:59 am CDT. Despite the loss of one Raptor engine during ascent, the booster completed its full flight profile, including a boost-back burn and a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, after which the Flight Termination System was activated.
Ship 41 reached orbit after an orbital insertion burn at T+ 00:25:20. During the flight, the vehicle deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. Although the ship experienced a shutdown of one Raptor Vacuum engine during ascent, it successfully reached an orbit of 262 by 275 km. The mission concluded with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii at T+ 03:08:30.
SpaceX is preparing for Flight 15, which will utilize Booster 22 and Ship 42. Both vehicles are currently undergoing engine installation. Booster 22 is expected to be ready for static fire within two weeks, while Ship 42 is expected to be ready in two to three weeks. The flight could potentially take place by the end of October, pending license modifications and mission profile decisions.
The 14th flight featured a new landing profile for the booster and a shallower reentry angle for the ship, which resulted in lower peak heat. SpaceX confirmed that all 26 deployed satellites established contact with the network. The company is now focusing on addressing engine reliability issues encountered during the ascent and landing phases of the mission.
