The Rehearsal

SpaceX has carried out a full launch rehearsal as it prepares for the fourteenth flight of its Starship rocket. The dress rehearsal, watched closely by spaceflight observers, is a key milestone before the vehicle is cleared for liftoff. Attention is now turning to the countdown and what the next test flight could demonstrate about the program's progress.

The Crew-13 astronauts have landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as preparations intensify for a targeted October 1 launch. Their arrival puts the mission into final countdown mode, with preflight checkouts, training and rehearsals underway at the spaceport. The crewed mission is set to continue rotational flights to the International Space Station, and attention now turns to whether the launch date holds.