Key facts
- SpaceX's Starship rocket achieved Earth orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight.
- The rocket deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites during the mission.
- Starship launched from Starbase, Texas, at 8:49 am EDT (12:49 UTC).
- One of six Raptor engines on the upper stage shut down prematurely during ascent.
- The Super Heavy booster stage detached and made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The upper stage reignited one engine for 19 seconds to achieve orbital velocity at an altitude of 171 miles.
SpaceX's Starship rocket successfully reached Earth orbit for the first time on Monday during its 14th test flight, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The launch from Starbase, Texas, at 8:49 am EDT (12:49 UTC) marked a significant milestone for the company's next-generation launch vehicle.
During the ascent, one of the six Raptor engines on Starship's upper stage shut down prematurely. Mission managers initially considered aborting the orbit insertion burn but ultimately decided to proceed. The Super Heavy booster stage detached and performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The upper stage then reignited one of its center Raptor engines for 19 seconds, adding approximately 204 mph to reach a stable orbit at an altitude of about 171 miles (276 kilometers).
This orbital flight allowed for the deployment of the newest generation of Starlink broadband satellites, which are too large to fit on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. These Starlink V3 satellites feature larger solar arrays and improved antennas, offering significant upgrades to the constellation. SpaceX engineers were conservative in their planning, prioritizing the successful completion of core systems required for orbital insertion and de-orbit.