STARBASE, TEXAS / RankWire.AI / – SpaceX’s Starship accomplished its initial journey into Earth’s orbit on September 28, 2026, marking a milestone during its 14th full-scale testing phase. The vehicle was launched from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas, powered by a Super Heavy booster. Despite losing one of its primary Raptor engines during ascent, Starship successfully reached orbit and then deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, marking the first time it carried an orbital payload.
The premature engine shutdown occurred after Starship separated from the Super Heavy booster. Flight controllers initially assessed whether the spacecraft could continue safely. After engineers verified sufficient redundancy, the remaining engines carried Starship through its planned orbital insertion. Prior Starship test flights had only reached suborbital trajectories, making Flight 14 the first to place the vehicle into a sustained Earth orbit.
Originally, SpaceX intended a mission lasting nearly 10 hours and encompassing around six orbits around Earth. The plan also included a controlled deorbit and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile. However, due to the engine issue, the company shortened the mission, completing the flight in approximately three hours. Before beginning its return, Starship released all 26 Starlink V3 satellites at an altitude of around 270 kilometers.
Starship completes its inaugural orbital satellite deployment
This deployment of Starlink satellites signified the first instance of Starship transporting operational satellites into orbit. The V3 series represents a newer generation of SpaceX’s broadband satellites and demands the increased payload capacity that Starship provides. SpaceX confirmed that all 26 satellites separated from the vehicle during the orbital phase. This event also demonstrated Starship’s capability to carry and release a sizable satellite payload after reaching the designated orbit.
The Super Heavy booster executed a separate return maneuver post-stage separation, aiming for its planned landing burn over the Gulf of Mexico. During descent, several engines did not function as intended, leading to a hard splashdown in the Gulf. Meanwhile, Starship reentered Earth’s atmosphere and descended toward the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii, deviating from the original plan of splashdown west of Chile.
Mission concludes after a three-hour flight with a controlled landing
Starship completed its controlled descent, reaching the Pacific Ocean roughly three hours after launch. After touchdown, the vehicle tipped over, and flames were visible around it. SpaceX did not intend to recover Starship or the Super Heavy booster from the water following this test. The flight’s success was marked by its first orbital insertion and the deployment of its first operational satellite payload, despite engine failure and the shortened duration.
NASA also maintains a direct link to Starship via its Artemis lunar program. The agency collaborates with SpaceX on a modified Starship Human Landing System intended for Artemis III and Artemis IV missions. This lunar version will transport astronauts between lunar orbit and the Moon’s surface. An uncrewed lunar demonstration is required before Starship can carry astronauts under the program. Flight 14 was an Earth-orbit test of the standard Starship system and did not involve crew members.