SpaceX has completed 13 sub‑orbital Starship test flights, and none have reached orbit to date.
Sub‑orbital test record
The French tech‑news site les‑numeriques reported that the 13 earlier Starship attempts were "strictly limited to sub‑orbital trajectories".1 The same source confirms that, up to the announced launch window, no Starship flight has achieved orbital velocity. This figure – 13 flights – is the total count "to 22 Sep 2026" as listed in the packet’s key numbers.
Each of those flights followed a ballistic profile that peaked well below low‑Earth orbit and then returned to Earth, providing data on engine reignition, aerodynamic heating and landing maneuvers. The packet does not break down individual flight dates or outcomes beyond the sub‑orbital classification, and no other source in the packet contradicts the count.
Official launch window for flight 14
On 15 September 2026, les‑numeriques published an article quoting SpaceX’s official communication that flight 14 – the first orbital attempt – is slated for 22 September 2026.2 The launch window will last 75 minutes, opening at 14:15 Paris time (08:15 ET). The article adds that the upper stage (the "Ship") will execute a full orbital insertion after booster separation, a mission profile that differs from the previous ballistic flights.
Regulatory approval is still pending, but the date is now part of SpaceX’s public schedule. No alternative dates or contingency windows are mentioned in the packet.
Company background
SpaceX, founded on 14 March 2002, is headquartered in Hawthorne, California, United States. The firm is led by chief executive Elon Musk, as recorded in Wikidata.3 The packet lists the company’s employee headcount at 160, though it notes that Wikidata may lag behind the latest internal figures.
While the Starship programme dominates headlines, SpaceX’s broader business includes the Starlink satellite constellation, launch services for commercial and government customers, and a growing portfolio of reusable launch vehicles. The packet does not provide financial metrics for SpaceX, but it does contain recent SEC‑filed figures for Starlink AI Acquisition Corp, a separate entity, illustrating the type of data that can be cross‑checked for consistency when needed.
Analysis: What the orbital test means
The transition from sub‑orbital to orbital testing is a material step for any launch system. Sub‑orbital flights validate propulsion, guidance and thermal protection in a high‑stress environment, but only an orbital flight demonstrates the vehicle’s ability to achieve and sustain the velocity required for sustained low‑Earth‑orbit operations.
For investors and industry observers, the 22 September date creates a clear milestone. If flight 14 succeeds, SpaceX will have proven the full launch‑to‑orbit capability of Starship, opening the path to payload deliveries, crewed missions and, ultimately, the Mars architecture that Musk has outlined. Conversely, a failure would reinforce the historic difficulty of achieving orbital insertion with a fully reusable vehicle.
Because the packet contains no forward‑looking performance forecasts, any projection of revenue impact or market share shift must be labelled speculative. The article therefore limits its forward view to the factual statement that the launch window is set and that the orbital attempt will be the first of its kind for Starship.
What remains unknown
- The exact number of crew or payload slots that will be available on flight 14.
- The regulatory conditions that SpaceX must satisfy before the window opens.
- Whether any additional sub‑orbital tests will be conducted between now and 22 September 2026.
SpaceX has not disclosed these details, and the packet provides no further information.
Timeline
- 13 Sep 2026 – les‑numeriques publishes the article confirming 13 sub‑orbital flights and the 22 Sep 2026 orbital launch date.
- 15 Sep 2026 – packet records the official announcement of the flight 14 launch date.
These entries illustrate the rapid progression from reporting to official scheduling.
As the launch window approaches, market participants will watch for the final go‑ahead from the Federal Aviation Administration and for any last‑minute technical updates from SpaceX.