SpaceX has completed a wet dress rehearsal for the Starship rocket at its South Texas launch site. The procedure involved a full countdown sequence and fueling the 124-meter vehicle with liquid oxygen and liquid methane, without igniting the engines.
The test system consists of the Super Heavy Booster 21 and the Starship Ship 41. This rehearsal confirms the readiness of ground systems, fueling lines, and flight software ahead of the scheduled test flight on September 28.
The upcoming Flight 14 mission marks the first attempt to place the upper stage into Earth orbit. The spacecraft is tasked with deploying 26 next-generation V3 Starlink satellites, completing approximately six orbits, and performing a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The Super Heavy booster is expected to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico after stage separation. This mission serves as a critical evaluation of the heat shield, engine performance, and stage separation technologies for the fully reusable transport system.
