STARBASE, TEXAS / RankWire.AI / – SpaceX’s Starship made its inaugural trip into Earth’s orbit on September 28, 2026, during its 14th full-scale flight test. The vehicle was launched from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas atop a Super Heavy booster. Despite losing one of its primary Raptor engines during ascent, Starship successfully entered orbit and subsequently deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, marking the spacecraft’s first orbital payload release.
Following separation from the Super Heavy booster, the engine shut down unexpectedly, which prompted flight controllers to initially assess whether the spacecraft could continue safely. After confirming that sufficient system redundancy existed, engineers authorized the remaining engines to carry Starship through its planned orbital insertion. Unlike previous suborbital test flights, Flight 14 was the first to place Starship into a stable Earth orbit.
Originally, SpaceX intended a mission lasting nearly 10 hours, completing about six orbits around Earth, with plans for a controlled deorbit and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile. However, due to the engine issue, the duration was shortened to approximately three hours. During this time, Starship released all 26 Starlink V3 satellites at an altitude of roughly 270 kilometers before initiating its return journey.
Starship achieves milestone with first operational satellite deployment
This deployment of Starlink satellites was the first time Starship carried operational payloads into orbit. The V3 series represents a newer generation of SpaceX’s broadband satellites, requiring the increased payload capacity only available on Starship. SpaceX verified that all 26 satellites separated from the vehicle during the orbital phase. This mission also demonstrated Starship’s capability to carry and release a large satellite payload after reaching the intended orbit.
Following stage separation, the Super Heavy booster executed its return profile separately. It attempted to land over the Gulf of Mexico, but several engines did not operate correctly during descent. The booster ultimately completed 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.
Flight concludes after a shortened three-hour mission
After approximately three hours in flight, Starship successfully completed its controlled descent and touched down in the Pacific. The vehicle tipped over upon reaching the ocean, with flames visible around it. Neither Starship nor the Super Heavy booster was intended to be recovered after this test. Despite the engine malfunction and reduced mission duration, the flight achieved its primary goals of first orbital insertion and operational satellite deployment.
NASA maintains a direct link to Starship via its Artemis lunar program. The agency collaborates with SpaceX on a modified Starship Human Landing System for Artemis III and Artemis IV missions, which will ferry astronauts between lunar orbit and the Moon’s surface. An uncrewed lunar demonstration is required before Starship transports crew members under the program. Flight 14 was solely an Earth-orbit test of the standard Starship system and did not include crew transportation.