SpaceX Wraps Ship 42 Tests, Flight 14 Moves to September 22

SpaceX has finished a multi‑day catch‑related test campaign with its unflown Starship prototype Ship 42 at Pad 2. During the session the company conducted a series of “chopsticks” tests—simulations of the vehicle’s re‑entry and landing sequence—before rolling the ship to a new position for the next phase of evaluation. The tests were designed to verify the vehicle’s ability to decelerate and land safely after a high‑altitude flight.

Following the completion of the catch tests, SpaceX moved Ship 42 to its next test configuration. The company also announced that Flight 14, the upcoming Starship launch that had previously been scheduled for an earlier date, is now slated to go live on the National Evaluation Team’s (NET) September 22 launch window. This shift reflects the company’s ongoing adjustments to its flight schedule as it continues to refine the vehicle’s performance and safety systems.