Starship reaches orbit and deploys 26 Starlink satellites

SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites during Flight 14 on September 28, a milestone for the rocket program. The company shortened the mission after engine trouble, and the spacecraft’s upper stage later splashed down in the Pacific Ocean rather than completing the planned flight. The Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX said all 26 satellites were operating nominally after deployment. The flight marked Starship’s first orbital mission and its first deployment of satellites into orbit. Earlier Starship flights had followed suborbital trajectories. The 26-satellite payload was smaller than the up-to-60 Starlink V3 satellites SpaceX has said it could carry on future missions. The vehicle lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas. After the stages separated, the Super Heavy booster returned toward the Gulf of Mexico. Some of its engines shut down or experienced trouble during the return, but the booster splashed down in the gulf. Starship continued toward orbit despite an engine issue.