SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for first time in 14th test flight

September 28, 2026 at 10:24 PM2 min

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SpaceX's Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time during its 14th test flight from Starbase, Texas, on September 29, 2026. The Super Heavy booster performed a return maneuver and exploded as planned after splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The upper stage deployed 26 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites despite an early engine shutdown.

Key Facts

Starship lifted off from Starbase, Texas, at 8:49 a.m. local time on September 29, 2026.
One of 33 Raptor 3 engines on the Super Heavy booster shut down 75 seconds after liftoff.
Ship 41 separated from Super Heavy about 2 minutes 34 seconds after launch using hot staging.
At an altitude of about 276 kilometers, Ship 41 performed the first orbital engine burn in Starship history.
Starship began deploying 26 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites after reaching orbit.

Launch and Booster Return

The rocket lifted off from Starbase in Texas at 8:49 a.m. local time (15:49 Moscow time). One of the 33 Raptor 3 engines on the Super Heavy first stage shut down 75 seconds after launch, but the flight continued. About 2 minutes 34 seconds after liftoff, the upper stage Ship 41 separated from the Super Heavy booster using hot staging. The Super Heavy booster performed a return maneuver and descended vertically toward the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Just before splashdown, the booster slowed as planned and then exploded in a fireball, completing its flight.

Orbital Insertion and Payload Deployment

During ascent, one of Ship 41's Raptor 3 engines shut down prematurely, but the ship compensated for the loss of thrust and completed the main burn. At an altitude of about 276 kilometers, Ship 41 performed the first orbital engine burn in Starship history using one Raptor 3 to establish a nearly circular orbit. After reaching orbit, Starship began deploying 26 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites intended to form the basis of SpaceX's next-generation satellite internet network. Three of the Starlink V3 satellites are equipped with cameras to photograph Starship and inspect its heat shield tiles after separation.

Mission Profile

If the mission continues as planned, Starship is expected to complete up to six orbits around Earth. The spacecraft would then deorbit and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile. Total flight duration could be about 10 hours.