Why This Matters: SpaceX’s Starship has reached Earth orbit for the first time, a major milestone for the company’s largest spacecraft and for NASA’s plans involving lunar missions.
What happened
SpaceX launched Starship from its Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in Texas on Monday, September 28, 2026. The 171-foot vehicle was making its 14th uncrewed flight.
The Super Heavy booster ignited 33 rocket engines at 7:48 a.m. Central Time. About two and a half minutes after liftoff, Starship separated from the booster and continued into space.
The flight was the first to send Starship into orbit around Earth. It also deployed Starlink satellites, according to NPR. One of Starship’s six engines failed during the flight, though the supplied report does not provide further details about the outcome.
Why it matters
- Starship is central to SpaceX’s commercial ambitions.
- NASA’s plans to land humans on the Moon involve the spacecraft.
- The orbital milestone follows 13 earlier uncrewed Starship flights.
What happens next
The flight was described as a critical test. The supplied report does not provide additional details about the spacecraft’s later flight performance, landing status or the next planned mission.
Bottom Line
Starship reached orbit for the first time on its 14th uncrewed flight, giving SpaceX a significant test milestone while leaving further mission results and next steps to be reported.
Source
This report is based on information published by NPR.
