GoKawiilSpaceX Starship reaches orbit, deploys 26 next-gen Starlink satellites
SpaceX's 14th Starship test flight launched from Starbase, Texas, and for the first time accelerated the upper stage to full orbital velocity rather than the suborbital trajectories used in prior tests. During the flight, the rocket deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites, which are too large to fit aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, releasing them one by one from its cargo bay. The Super Heavy booster separated and made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico near the launch site.
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Reaching orbital velocity marks a step toward Starship's intended role as a fully operational launch vehicle rather than a test platform limited to suborbital hops. Successfully deploying the larger Starlink satellites suggests SpaceX could use Starship to expand its broadband constellation with fewer, more capable satellites, potentially reducing launch costs per unit of capacity. The mission's progress also points to continued momentum in SpaceX's iterative testing approach ahead of more ambitious goals like crewed or interplanetary missions.
- Starship's 14th test flight was the first to reach full orbital velocity.
- The rocket deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites too large for Falcon 9.
- The Super Heavy booster stage returned for a controlled splashdown near Starbase.
Starlink Mini Satellite Dish Kit — With SpaceX now launching next-gen Starlink satellites via Starship, the constellation's bandwidth and coverage keep expanding. The Starlink Mini is a compact, portable way to actually tap into that network for satellite internet at home, off-grid, or on the road.
See Starlink Mini Satellite Dish Kit on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-28
Published there as: “SpaceX's Starship goes orbital, deploying first next-gen Starlinks”
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