STARBASE, TEXAS / RankWire.AI / – SpaceX’s Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time on September 28, 2026, marking a new milestone for the launch system. The spacecraft lifted off from Starbase in South Texas on the 14th full-scale Starship flight. One Raptor engine shut down during ascent, but the vehicle continued toward orbit. Starship later released 26 Starlink V3 satellites before completing a shortened mission lasting about three hours.
The orbital flight exceeded the suborbital profiles used during earlier Starship tests. After separating from the Super Heavy booster, Starship continued its ascent toward space. Flight controllers evaluated the engine issue before the spacecraft achieved orbital insertion using its remaining propulsion. This mission became the first Starship flight to stay in Earth orbit and the first to deliver operational satellites to their deployment point.
SpaceX had intended a significantly longer flight lasting nearly 10 hours. The original plan involved about six orbits around Earth before a controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean west of Chile. However, the engine shutdown prompted the company to shorten the mission duration. Prior to leaving orbit, Starship deployed all 26 Starlink V3 satellites at approximately 270 kilometers altitude, marking the spacecraft’s first operational payload deployment.
Starship Successfully Launches Its First Operational Payload
The satellite deployment represented a commercial payload milestone during Starship’s first orbital mission. The V3 satellites are part of a newer generation of the Starlink broadband constellation. Their increased size makes Starship an essential launch platform for carrying large quantities. All 26 satellites separated from the spacecraft during the orbital phase, which followed Starship’s initial successful orbital insertion.
Following separation, Super Heavy initiated its return sequence. The booster descended toward the Gulf of Mexico, beginning its planned landing burn over the water. During descent, multiple engines malfunctioned, resulting in a hard splashdown. Starship later re-entered the atmosphere on a revised trajectory, heading toward the Pacific north of Hawaii instead of the originally planned splashdown zone near Chile.
Shortened Mission Ends with Pacific Splashdown
After roughly three hours in flight, Starship reached the Pacific Ocean, entering the water and tipping onto its side. Flames were visible around the vehicle following splashdown. The mission did not include plans to recover Starship or Super Heavy from the water after the test. It concluded successfully, having achieved several milestones such as orbital insertion, operational satellite deployment, and completing an orbital reentry sequence.
NASA also plays a direct role in Starship’s development via the Artemis lunar program. The agency selected a modified version of Starship as a Human Landing System for upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon. This variant will transport astronauts between lunar orbit and the lunar surface. NASA requires an uncrewed lunar landing demonstration before astronauts will use the system. Flight 14 involved a standard Starship configuration, remained an Earth-orbit mission, and carried no crew.