SpaceX’s Starship goes orbital, deploying first next-gen Starlinks

Live updates

1. 50m ago

   SpaceX Starship Reaches Orbit and Deploys First Next-Gen Starlink Satellites

   SpaceX successfully launched Starship Flight 14 into orbit for the first time on September 28, 2026. Launching from Starbase, Texas, the 407-foot-tall rocket deployed 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites before the mission was cut short for safety. The spacecraft reentered the atmosphere and splashed down north of Hawaii after a three-hour flight. While the team aimed for a 10-hour flight with six orbits around Earth, the mission ended early after achieving its primary orbital and deployment goals.

   Why it matters

   This orbital milestone proves the viability of the largest rocket ever built for complex missions. Success here supports the development of fully reusable launch systems intended for NASA's Artemis moon program and future Mars missions.

   What is confirmed

   • Starship Flight 14 reached orbit for the first time on September 28, 2026.
   • The rocket launched from SpaceX's Starbase complex in Texas.
   • SpaceX deployed 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites during the flight.
   • The spacecraft splashed down north of Hawaii after a three-hour flight.
   • The Starship rocket stands 407 feet tall.
   • SpaceX cut the flight short for safety reasons.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The flight was originally intended to last 10 hours and orbit Earth 6 times.
   • The mission aimed to prove readiness for NASA's Artemis moon program.

   What to watch next

   • Analysis of the Starship upper stage soft landing in the Northern Pacific Ocean
   • Confirmation of the operational status of the 26 Starlink V3 satellites
   • Details on the cause of the early flight termination
   Sources used for this update (27)

   1. mynews13.com — NASA and SpaceX successfully launch Nancy Grace Roman telescope
   2. CNBC — SpaceX prepares to send Starship rocket to orbit for first time
   3. foxbusiness.com — SpaceX launches Starship on 10-hour test flight, aiming to orbit Earth 6 times
   4. www.nbcnews.com — SpaceX’s supersized Starship launches into orbit for the first time but flight ends early
   5. Space — Wow! Watch SpaceX's Starship megarocket deploy satellites into orbit for 1st time ever (photos, video)
   6. spaceflightnow.com — Starship returns to Earth; rocket splashes down north of Hawaii after three-hour flight
   7. Yahoo Finance — SpaceX Starship test reaches Earth orbit, 26 Starlink satellites deployed
   8. Ars Technica — Starship's first orbital launch gives lift to SpaceX's next-gen Starlinks
   9. Time Magazine — A SpaceX Starship Rocket Officially Reached Orbit. Why That's So Significant
   10. The Economist — SpaceX sends Starship into orbit
   11. The Hindu — SpaceX puts Starship megarocket in orbit for first time
   12. NPR — SpaceX's Starship reaches orbit for the first time
   confidence 95%