SpaceX (SPCX) Stock: Starship's Historic Orbital Launch Attempt on Monday

TLDR

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SpaceX’s Starship rocket will attempt its maiden orbital flight on Monday during Flight 14 from Starbase, Texas.
The launch window begins at 8:15 a.m. ET and spans 75 minutes, carrying 26 advanced Starlink V3 satellites.
SPCX shares are trading beneath their June IPO high of $225.64, experiencing a roughly 3% decline in the past week.
Analysts from Mizuho and Bernstein continue backing the stock with Buy ratings, targeting $200 and $248 respectively.
The consensus analyst target of $232.07 suggests significant appreciation potential from present trading levels.

SpaceX stands on the verge of a monumental milestone. The aerospace manufacturer is set to launch its Starship vehicle Monday morning in a historic bid to achieve orbital flight.

Starship’s 14th flight is set to launch on Monday, Sept 28. The 75-minute launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. CT. Live coverage of the mission starts ~35 minutes before launch → https://t.co/uQKQvgaTmJ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 27, 2026

Liftoff is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. ET from the company’s Starbase facility in Texas. The opportunity window extends for 75 minutes.

This marks Starship’s 14th test mission. None of the previous 13 flights targeted orbital insertion.

The FAA granted approval for the mission and reentry operations on September 26. Additionally, SpaceX executed a wet dress rehearsal last Thursday, simulating launch procedures without ignition.

Mission Objectives and Importance

During Flight 14, SpaceX intends to release 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites. These satellites originate from SpaceX’s production site in Redmond, Washington.

The V3 models double the power output compared to previous iterations. They feature increased size and enhanced capabilities for delivering high-speed data to users.

Starlink represents SpaceX’s dominant revenue generator and sole profitable division. The constellation comprises approximately 11,000 operational satellites, dwarfing competitor Eutelsat OneWeb’s fleet of around 650.

During an August statement, CEO Elon Musk suggested Starlink might ultimately provide internet connectivity to most of the globe in regions where SpaceX maintains operations. While ambitious, current deployment figures support this trajectory.

Starship serves broader strategic objectives beyond satellite deployment. The rocket is central to SpaceX’s preparation for a critical NASA mission next year involving lunar astronaut transport.

COO Gwynne Shotwell revealed earlier this month that SpaceX plans to launch “AI compute satellites” beginning in 2027.

SPCX Stock Analysis

SPCX debuted publicly in June through history’s largest IPO, achieving a valuation approaching $2 trillion. Share prices have experienced substantial volatility since.

Current trading levels remain above the $135 IPO price. However, shares sit considerably below the June pinnacle of $225.64.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SPCX

Throughout the previous five trading sessions, SPCX declined approximately 3%. Market participants have cited apprehensions regarding capital expenditure requirements and valuation metrics.

During Monday’s premarket session, shares slipped 0.75% as the launch countdown progressed.

Despite recent weakness, Wall Street analysts maintain constructive outlooks. Mizuho’s Brett Linzey reaffirmed his Buy recommendation with a $200 target.

Linzey highlighted a recent hosting agreement potentially generating approximately $1.11 billion monthly at peak capacity. He noted the contract provides clarity on demand for SpaceX’s computational infrastructure.

Bernstein’s Douglas Harned similarly maintained his Buy stance, establishing a $248 target. Harned emphasized Starship’s reusability as foundational to SpaceX’s orbital data center strategy.

His forecast anticipates demonstration of second-stage recovery during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Collectively, Wall Street assigns SPCX a Moderate Buy consensus. This reflects 26 Buy ratings, five Hold ratings, and two Sell ratings from covering analysts.

The consensus price target stands at $232.07. Achievement of this level would represent a 56% gain from current valuations.

For the moment, attention centers on Starbase, Texas, and whether Flight 14 becomes Starship’s inaugural orbital success.