SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for the first time
SpaceX's Starship successfully entered orbit despite one of its three engines shutting down early in the flight.
SpaceX has launched its massive Starship rocket into orbit for the first time, a crucial milestone for NASA's moon missions. One of Starship's three engines shut down too early, cutting the planned ten-hour mission to just three hours.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot initially announced on the company's livestream that the rocket would not reach orbit, but engineers found a way forward and announced success minutes later. Once in space, Starship deployed 26 Starlink satellites at an altitude of 269 kilometres.
The rocket then re-entered the atmosphere and conducted a controlled landing in the Pacific Ocean. This was Starship's 14th full-scale launch in three years.
Earlier test flights never made it this far, often crashing in flames or only skimming the edge of space. The rocket must prove it can fly reliably before NASA will use it for moon missions under the Artemis program.
- 14th full-scale launch
- Launch number
- 26
- Satellites deployed
- 275 kilometres
- Orbit altitude
- 3 hours
- Mission duration
Why it mattersSpaceX must certify Starship for regular orbital flight to support NASA's moon landing plans and reduce space launch costs.
AustraliaSpaceX's progress affects global space infrastructure and Australia's role in future space missions and satellite services.
Corroborated byperthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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