Run through the entire process, yet the rocket never leaves the ground—that's the paradox of a "wet dress rehearsal." SpaceX announced on X that Starship has completed its pre-launch wet dress rehearsal, gearing up for the next test flight, designated Flight 14.
A wet dress rehearsal involves loading the rocket with actual liquid propellant and powering it up, running through final checks on fuel lines, software, and ground communications. The team even practices the complete countdown sequence, as well as the abort procedures for bad weather scenarios, before finally draining the propellant to simulate the offloading process. The entire routine essentially replicates every step of an actual launch—minus the moment of liftoff itself.
With this rehearsal successfully completed, the timeline for Starship's 14th test flight remains unchanged, with the launch window set for September 28 at 8:15 AM EDT, lasting 75 minutes. This mission carries significant weight—while Starship has undergone numerous suborbital tests in the past, Flight 14 will mark its first genuine attempt at orbital flight. According to plans released by SpaceX, Starship is expected to circle the Earth 6 times within 10 hours before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down in the ocean.
This mission also carries another key objective: delivering 26 Starlink V3 satellites into orbit, marking the first time this next-generation satellite model joins SpaceX's satellite internet constellation. The launch will be livestreamed on X starting September 28.
