GoKawiilSpaceX Starship reaches orbit, deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites
SpaceX's Starship completed its 14th test flight on Monday, achieving orbital insertion for the first time and deploying 26 of its new Starlink V3 satellites from Starbase in South Texas. The Super Heavy booster, using 33 Raptor engines, separated and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, while the upper stage suffered an early engine shutdown before restarting a Raptor engine to reach an orbit roughly 171 miles up. SpaceX confirmed contact with all 26 deployed satellites, each weighing about 2 metric tons.
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Achieving orbit gives Starship a functional role in deploying satellites too large for Falcon 9, suggesting SpaceX is moving toward using the larger rocket for its next-generation Starlink network. The engine failures during ascent and booster return indicate reliability issues remain even as the vehicle notches a key milestone, which could affect the pace of future launches. The successful deployment of V3 satellites points to SpaceX's plans to expand broadband capacity, according to the company's own claims about the satellites' upgraded capabilities.
- Starship reached orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites.
- The mission revealed engine problems, including an early shutdown on the upper stage and two Raptor failures on the Super Heavy booster.
- Starship's larger cargo capacity is now central to SpaceX's plan to deploy bigger, more capable Starlink satellites unable to fit on Falcon 9.
Starlink Standard Kit Satellite Internet — With SpaceX now launching next-gen Starlink V3 satellites via Starship, the broadband network these satellites power keeps getting faster and more capable. A Starlink kit lets you tap directly into this expanding satellite internet system for high-speed connectivity almost anywhere. It's a great way to experience firsthand the technology behind these historic launches.
See Starlink Standard Kit Satellite Internet 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: techspot.com — Skye Jacobs, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “SpaceX's Starship finally reaches orbit and puts 26 Starlink satellites into space”
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