STARBASE, TEXAS / RankWire.AI / – SpaceX’s Starship entered Earth orbit for the first time on September 28, 2026, marking a significant milestone 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 persisted toward its orbital destination. Before completing its mission, Starship released 26 Starlink V3 satellites and conducted a flight lasting approximately three hours.
This orbital maneuver extended beyond the suborbital profiles seen in earlier Starship tests. The vehicle separated from the Super Heavy booster and continued its ascent into space. Flight controllers examined the engine issue before the spacecraft achieved orbital insertion utilizing its remaining propulsion. This flight marked the first time a Starship stayed in Earth orbit and carried operational payloads to their deployment points.
Initially, SpaceX planned a considerably longer mission, nearly 10 hours in duration. The original plan included approximately six orbits around Earth before a controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean west of Chile. The engine shutdown led to a reduction in mission length. Prior to leaving orbit, Starship deployed all 26 Starlink V3 satellites at around 270 kilometers altitude, marking the spacecraft’s first operational payload deployment.
Starship Sends First Operational Satellites into Orbit
This satellite deployment represented a key commercial milestone for Starship’s inaugural orbital flight. The V3 satellites are part of a newer generation of the Starlink broadband constellation. Their larger design underscores Starship’s significance as a launch platform capable of carrying numerous satellites simultaneously. All 26 satellites separated successfully during the orbital phase, coming after Starship’s initial achievement of sustained orbital insertion.
Following separation, Super Heavy initiated its descent back to Earth. It headed toward the Gulf of Mexico and began its planned landing burn above the water. During descent, several engines did not perform as expected, resulting in a hard splashdown. Meanwhile, Starship re-entered the atmosphere on a revised trajectory, headed toward the Pacific north of Hawaii instead of the originally planned splashdown zone near Chile.
Shortened Mission Ends with Pacific Splashdown
After about three hours in flight, Starship reached the Pacific Ocean. The vehicle entered the water and tipped onto its side, with flames visible around it post-splashdown. SpaceX did not plan to recover either Starship or Super Heavy from the water following this test. The mission concluded successfully, achieving several historic firsts, including orbital insertion, operational satellite deployment, and a complete orbital reentry sequence.
NASA also plays a direct role in Starship’s development through its Artemis lunar program. The agency selected a modified version of Starship to serve as a Human Landing System for upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon. This version will transport astronauts between lunar orbit and the surface. An uncrewed lunar landing demonstration is a prerequisite before crewed missions. Flight 14 was purely an Earth-orbit test using the standard Starship configuration and carried no crew.