SpaceX’s Starship rocket achieved a major milestone on September 28, 2026, reaching orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight from Starbase, Texas. Described as the most powerful rocket ever built, the vehicle successfully deployed 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites after overcoming a mid-ascent engine shutdown on the upper stage. Mission controllers briefly hesitated on committing to a full orbital trajectory but reversed the decision after confirming the ship could still complete the insertion burn. The satellites were released as planned, with SpaceX later confirming contact had been established with all 26.

The original plan called for a roughly 10-hour mission involving six orbits before a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Due to the engine issue, the flight was shortened to approximately three hours while still gathering critical data. The Super Heavy booster completed its own planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. This successful orbital flight marks significant progress toward routine Starship operations, full reusability, and support for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions, providing valuable performance information for future iterations of the vehicle.