World News Update: SpaceX launches Starship Flight 14 from Starbase, Texas; Super Heavy booster splashes down in Gulf

Launch: Starship Flight 14 / Starlink Group 31-1 (after liftoff)

Rocket

SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy (Starship Flight 14)

Launch site

Pad 2 (Orbital Launch Pad 2), Starbase, Texas

Time (CT)

Liftoff at 7:49 a.m. CT Monday, Sept. 28 (T-0 7:48:59 a.m. CT / 1248:59 UTC). SpaceX had targeted 7:48 a.m. CT inside a window that opened at 7:15 a.m. CT.

Result

Successful liftoff. Super Heavy booster B21 completed its landing burn and splashed down in the Gulf of America about seven minutes later; SpaceX did not attempt to recover either stage. Ship 41 is continuing the first planned Starship orbital flight with Starlink V3 deployment still ahead if orbital insertion proceeds.

Cargo

26 Starlink Version 3 satellites (Starlink Group 31-1 / Starlink 31-1); three carry extra cameras to image Starship’s heat shield.

Booster

Super Heavy booster B21 with Ship 41. Landing burn and splashdown offshore in the Gulf of America; recovery not attempted on this flight (SpaceX return site listed as expended).

Our view Another step toward Mars: SpaceX just flew Starship toward Earth orbit for the first time after 13 intentionally suborbital tests — the next phase of making the fully reusable stack that the company says will eventually carry people to Mars.

BBC live coverage of the SpaceX webcast said the Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico with applause at SpaceX, and that the company opted not to catch the booster at the pad on this test. Ship 41’s planned profile still includes an orbital insertion burn only after flight controllers confirm enough redundancy for a later deorbit, then Starlink V3 deploy and a Pacific splashdown west of Chile after roughly six orbits.

Before liftoff: our earlier World News Update on Starship Flight 14

World news this morning

• Trump still expects more Iran talks this week after rejecting Hormuz proposal; oil stays sensitive President Trump told Axios he expects more talks with Iran this week after rejecting Tehran’s plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran “overplayed” its hand while keeping the diplomatic channel open. U.N. envoy Mike Waltz said Iran was asking for sanctions relief and asset releases up front. Brent crude had jumped more than 3% on the rejection news, Reuters reported, as markets watch any path back to Hormuz transit. (Reuters, India Today, RNZ)
• Iran says it is still waiting on a “definitive” U.S. response through mediators Iranian officials said they are awaiting a definitive American answer via mediators even after Trump publicly rejected the latest Hormuz proposal, RNZ reported. Qatari mediation has continued on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, with further indirect contacts possible Monday. (RNZ, Gulf News)
• Zelenskiy says Ukraine struck Russian oil facilities in Krasnodar Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine’s military had struck Russian oil facilities in the Krasnodar region, Reuters reported, as energy markets already were reacting to the Iran stalemate. (Reuters)

Earlier: the full Sunday 9 PM World Brief