SpaceX prepares Starship for historic first orbital flight test

SpaceX is preparing for the first orbital flight test of its Starship megarocket, scheduled for September 28 from its Starbase facility in Texas. Unlike previous suborbital tests, this mission aims to place the vehicle's upper stage into low-Earth orbit. The flight is expected to last approximately ten hours, during which the ship will complete six orbits before performing a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Chile.

A key objective of this mission is the deployment of next-generation Starlink V3 satellites. This launch is considered a critical milestone for the company's long-term goals, including NASA's Artemis program and future Mars colonization efforts.

Financially, SpaceX continues to see significant market interest. Analysts have noted the company's increasing importance in AI infrastructure and orbital data centers. While some investors remain cautious due to upcoming share unlocks and production shifts from Falcon 9 to Starship, others suggest the company's potential valuation could reach trillions of dollars as it scales its launch and satellite services. Additionally, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell recently filed to sell approximately $52 million in company shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan.