Starship reaches Earth orbit for first time
During the first orbital test flight, SpaceX also placed 26 Starlink satellites into low orbit.
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On Monday, SpaceX placed a complete Super Heavy-Starship system into orbit around Earth for the first time. During the test flight, 26 Starlink satellites were deployed, after which the spacecraft made a controlled landing in the Pacific Ocean, according to CBS News.
The launch took place from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas. The system consists of Super Heavy as the first stage and the Starship spacecraft as the second stage. The combination is approximately 122 metres tall and was developed for reusability, high cargo capacity and future flights to the Moon and Mars.
The flight did not proceed without problems. One of the spacecraft’s six Raptor engines shut down prematurely during the ascent. According to CBS News, the flight team judged the remaining data sufficient to continue. A second engine ignition subsequently brought Starship into orbit around Earth after all.
After reaching orbit, Starship deployed 26 third-generation Starlink satellites. This was the first time the system had placed operational satellites into low Earth orbit. The satellites form part of SpaceX’s internet network, but the flight was primarily a test of the launch system.
SpaceX decided to bring the spacecraft back earlier than originally planned after deploying the satellites. According to CBS News, it made a planned landing at sea north of Hawaii. The Super Heavy booster also ended up at sea off the coast of Texas. This time, SpaceX did not attempt to catch the booster with the arms of the launch tower.
For NASA, the flight is important because a modified version of Starship is to serve as a lunar lander in the Artemis programme. NASA is aiming for a crewed lunar landing in 2028, but according to CBS it remains uncertain whether SpaceX will meet that timetable. Reliable relights, reusability and refuelling flights are among the requirements.
This was a successful test flight, not a completed research programme. The data still need to be analysed, and future flights must demonstrate whether the performance is repeatable. The engine failure in particular, and the absence of a landing at the launch site, show that the system is still technically under development.
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The key flight details have been confirmed by independent reporting and SpaceX’s official page. The text makes clear that this was a test flight and that the future lunar timetable remains uncertain.
- confirmed Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time. — CBS News describes the flight as the system’s first orbital flight. source
- confirmed A Raptor engine failed early during the ascent. — The engine failure is described by CBS News. source
- confirmed Twenty-six Starlink satellites were deployed. — CBS News gives the number and reports the satellite deployment. source
- confirmed Starship landed at sea north of Hawaii. — Reported by CBS News. source
- confirmed NASA is aiming for an Artemis lunar landing in 2028. — CBS News cites 2028 as the planned date and stresses that the timetable remains uncertain. source
Editor's note
The orbital flight, satellite deployment and landing at sea were described by CBS News. The scientific status is that of a commercial test flight; there is no peer-reviewed research paper on this mission.Sources
- SpaceX launches Starship on giant rocket’s first flight to orbit — CBS News
- Starship Flight 14 — SpaceX
- STARSHIP REACHES EARTH ORBIT IN HISTORIC LAUNCH FROM STARBASE — City of Brownsville
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „starship spacex”
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