STARBASE, TEXAS / RankWire.AI / – SpaceX’s Starship successfully entered Earth orbit for the first time on September 28, 2026. This milestone marks a significant advancement for the launch vehicle. The spacecraft launched from Starbase in South Texas during its 14th full-scale Starship mission. During ascent, one Raptor engine shut down, but the vehicle pressed on toward orbit. Before completing its mission, Starship released 26 Starlink V3 satellites, concluding a flight that lasted roughly three hours.
This orbital maneuver extended beyond the suborbital profiles utilized in earlier Starship tests. After separating from the Super Heavy booster, Starship continued its ascent toward space. Flight controllers evaluated an engine issue before the spacecraft achieved orbital insertion with its remaining propulsion system. This mission was the first Starship flight to remain in Earth orbit and also the first to deliver operational satellites to their intended deployment zone.
Initially, SpaceX planned a longer mission of nearly 10 hours. The original flight profile envisioned about six orbits around Earth before a controlled re-entry into the Pacific Ocean west of Chile. However, the engine shutdown led to a shortened mission timeframe. Prior to leaving orbit, Starship deployed all 26 Starlink V3 satellites at an altitude of approximately 270 kilometers, marking the spacecraft’s first operational payload deployment.
Starship accomplishes its first successful satellite deployment in orbit
This satellite deployment milestone was a key achievement for Starship’s inaugural orbital mission. The V3 satellites are part of a newer generation of the Starlink broadband network. Their larger size underscores Starship’s capacity to launch significant quantities of these satellites. All 26 units separated during the orbital phase, demonstrating operational success. This release followed Starship’s completion of its initial sustained orbital insertion.
Following separation, Super Heavy initiated its descent back to Earth. The booster headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, starting its planned landing burn over the water. During reentry, several engines did not perform as expected, resulting in a hard splashdown. Meanwhile, Starship re-entered the atmosphere on a revised trajectory, heading toward the Pacific north of Hawaii instead of the originally planned splashdown zone near Chile.
Flight shortened to a Pacific splashdown after approximately three hours
Starship reached the Pacific Ocean after about three hours in flight. The spacecraft descended and splashed down into the ocean, tipping onto its side upon contact. Flames appeared around the vehicle following splashdown. SpaceX had not intended to recover either Starship or Super Heavy from the water after this test. The mission concluded with several historic achievements, including orbital insertion, operational satellite deployment, and a successful orbital reentry sequence.
NASA also plays a direct role in the development of Starship through the Artemis lunar program. The agency selected a modified version of Starship to serve as a Human Landing System for future Artemis missions to the Moon. That variant will transport astronauts between lunar orbit and the lunar surface. NASA requires an uncrewed lunar landing demonstration before crewed missions can proceed. Flight 14 was an Earth-orbit mission using the standard Starship configuration and carried no crew.