Sept. 24, 2026 · Four days out, Starbase runs the launch-day script: the first orbital stack takes on propellant behind a dawn-to-dusk closure

September 24, 2026

Four days out, Starbase runs the launch-day script: the first orbital stack takes on propellant behind a dawn-to-dusk closure

T-4 days: Starship's first orbital stack ran its fueling rehearsal Thursday behind a dawn-to-dusk closure; the launch window opens Monday at 7:15 AM CT — Rehearsal day, by the countdown. Closure: City of Starbase Mayor's Order No. 2026-22.

The launch campaign we watched roll toward the pad on Tuesday spent today doing the full dress rehearsal. The sequence, from the trades that track every vehicle move: Booster 21 arrived at Pad 2 over the weekend, Ship 41 joined it overnight Wednesday, and by September 23 the two were stacked into the vehicle that will attempt Starship's first orbit. Today the City of Starbase closed Highway 4 and Boca Chica Beach from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM under Mayor's Order No. 2026-22 (alternate date: Friday the 25th, same hours) while SpaceX ran the wet dress rehearsal: a full propellant load of the stacked vehicle and a countdown simulation of Monday morning, expected to wrap by midday per Space.com's live coverage. SpaceX has not published a result, and we won't call the test complete until it does. What we can verify tonight: the city page shows Boca Chica Beach open again and no delays posted, which is what a rehearsal that used its window looks like.

What hasn't moved: Flight 14 remains no earlier than Monday, September 28, window 7:15 to 8:30 AM Central, still carrying the "pending regulatory approval" caveat. What to watch now is the paperwork, on two tracks. The launch-day mayoral closure order still has not posted: the newest executed order on the city page is today's rehearsal order itself, and with the historical 2-to-5-day lead time we flagged Tuesday, it could land any hour. If you're coming for the attempt, the viewing guide is current and the city's text alerts (text BEACH to 866-513-3475) remain the fastest signal. Status line on the week's other federal thread: the AP expected title on the refuge swap to transfer September 22; no recorded deed has surfaced publicly yet, and we're watching the county records rather than guessing.

Sources: City of Starbase — Beach and Road Access (Order No. 2026-22; re-checked this evening, beach open) · Spaceflight Now (Sept. 21) — Booster 21 at the pad · Spaceflight Now (Sept. 23) — the stack · NASASpaceflight — Ship 41 and Booster 21 head into key pre-flight test · Space.com — Flight 14 live updates (Sept. 24) · SpaceX — Starship Flight 14

Know before the next launch: get free Launch Alerts by email, or follow us on X, Facebook and WhatsApp.