Starship reaches orbit, deploys Starlink satellites before early splashdown in Pacific
· Technology · India Today, Al Jazeera
SpaceX's Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time during its 14th flight test on September 28, 2026, successfully deploying 26 Starlink satellites. The 124-metre-tall Starship-Super Heavy rocket lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas. After the Super Heavy booster separated minutes after liftoff, Starship continued into orbit but suffered an early thruster failure. The mission ended in just over three hours, nearly seven hours ahead of the expected 10-hour duration. SpaceX directed the spacecraft toward a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. The flight marked Starship's first revenue-generating flight and a major milestone for the company.
Why it matters
The successful deployment of Starlink satellites demonstrates Starship's capability to carry and release operational payloads in orbit, advancing SpaceX's satellite internet network. This milestone brings SpaceX closer to regular orbital flights and commercial satellite launches using Starship.
Read the original report — India Today
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