SpaceX Starship Flight 14 reaches Earth's orbit and explodes in the Pacific

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   SpaceX Starship Reaches Orbit and Explodes in Pacific

   SpaceX Starship Flight 14 successfully achieved Earth's orbit for the first time during a test flight before ending in a fiery explosion over the Pacific Ocean. The massive rocket launched from Starbase, Texas, clearing the tower at 8:48 a.m. EDT on Monday, September 28. During the flight, the spacecraft deployed 26 V3 Starlink satellites at an altitude of 170 miles. Following a tense period involving communication issues and an engine loss, mission controllers elected to return the vehicle early. The flight concluded in a fireball just over three hours after liftoff.

   Why it matters

   This test marked the fourteenth flight of SpaceX's Starship system, following thirteen previous suborbital attempts. The vehicle represents the most powerful rocket ever built, designed to revolutionize space technology and support future human interplanetary travel. Success on this flight is critical for NASA moon mission objectives and overall program development.

   What is confirmed

   • SpaceX Starship Flight 14 launched from Starbase, Texas, at 8:48 a.m. EDT on Monday, September 28.
   • The vehicle reached Earth's orbit for the first time after 13 previous suborbital test flights.
   • The spacecraft deployed 26 V3 Starlink satellites at an altitude of 170 miles.
   • The mission ended in a fiery explosion over the Pacific Ocean just over three hours after launch.

   Still unconfirmed

   • An initial engine failure occurred shortly after the Texas launch.

   What to watch next

   • Investigation findings from SpaceX regarding the engine loss and explosion.
   • Impact assessments on NASA moon mission objectives following the engine failure.
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. cnn.com — Live updates: SpaceX launches unprecedented test flight of massive Starship, aiming for orbit
   2. foxbusiness.com — SpaceX launches Starship on 10-hour test flight, aiming to orbit Earth 6 times
   3. www.cnn.com — Unprecedented test flight of massive SpaceX Starship reaches orbit
   4. www.spacex.com — SpaceX - Starship Flight 14
   5. www.theguardian.com — ‘Starship is in orbit’: cheers go up as huge SpaceX rocket ...
   6. www.cnn.com — SpaceX’s Starship is headed for orbit. Here’s what’s at stake ...
   7. www.space.com — SpaceX launches classified mystery mission for US Space Force from California (video) | Space
   8. reuters.com — SpaceX's Starship engine failure could impact NASA's moon mission objectives
   9. Mashable — SpaceX Starship Flight 14 reaches Earth's orbit and explodes in the Pacific
   10. space.com — Starship just reached orbit for the 1st time. What's next for the SpaceX megarocket?
   11. mashable.com — SpaceX Starship Flight 14 reaches Earth's orbit and explodes in the Pacific
   12. AP News — SpaceX’s Starship returns early to Earth after reaching orbit for the first time
   confidence 100%