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SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for first time
SpaceX's Starship spacecraft achieved orbit and deployed 26 Starlink satellites on its 14th test flight, marking a major milestone for the company's ambitions.
In brief
SpaceX's Starship spacecraft achieved orbit and deployed 26 Starlink satellites on its 14th test flight, marking a major milestone for the company's ambitions. SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on September twenty-eighth, successfully deploying twenty-six Starlink satellites before splashing down in…
Starship reaches orbit
SpaceX launched the world's largest and most powerful rocket and spacecraft on Monday, marking the first time Starship achieved orbit. The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific north of Hawaii just before noon ET.
Mission ends early but succeeds
Although the mission ended seven hours earlier than planned, SpaceX called flight fourteen a success because it achieved both primary objectives: getting Starship into orbit and successfully adding Starlink satellites to its orbital constellation.
First revenue-generating payload
Starship's fourteenth test flight was the first Starship mission to make money for SpaceX. The company successfully deployed twenty-six Starlink satellites into orbit to build out its satellite internet division, SpaceX's primary revenue generator.
Launch from Texas
The flight lifted off at eight fifty a.m. ET from SpaceX's Starbase in Cameron County, Texas. The launch was initially scheduled for eight fifteen a.m. ET but was pushed to eight forty-eight a.m. ET on Monday morning.
Satellites deployed successfully
Just over half an hour into the mission, Starship began deploying its payload of twenty-six Starlink V three satellites. This marked the first time Starlink satellites were placed into orbit for ongoing use rather than burning up in the atmosphere.
Booster splashes down safely
Starship lifted off atop the Super Heavy booster, which separated after launch and performed a boostback burn to change direction for return to Earth. After the landing burn, the booster successfully splashed down in the Gulf.
Continuous monitoring during flight
The flight plan included regular vehicle health checks. SpaceX says Starship has more than five hundred sensors measuring temperature, pressure and acceleration during the mission, providing flight controllers with continuous telemetry data throughout.
Longest SpaceX mission to date
The mission lasted about three hours from launch to splashdown, making it the longest SpaceX mission to date. SpaceX decided to end the mission early after successfully deploying the Starlink satellites, taking advantage of their first scheduled checkpoint.
The key point
SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on September twenty-eighth, successfully deploying twenty-six Starlink satellites before splashing down in the Pacific.
