SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit despite engine failure

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 29, 2026

SpaceX’s Starship rocket achieved its first successful orbital flight on September 28, deploying 26 new Starlink satellites after overcoming an engine shutdown and completing a controlled splashdown and booster landing. This milestone advances SpaceX’s goal of fully reusable spacecraft capable of carrying heavy payloads for future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, marking a critical step toward commercial spaceflight and deep space exploration.

SpaceX’s Starship rocket successfully reached orbit for the first time on September 28, marking a significant milestone for the company and its founder Elon Musk. The 400-foot (120-meter) rocket launched from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in south Texas at 7:49 a.m. local time, completing an ambitious 14th test flight that included the deployment of 26 new-generation Starlink satellites.

The flight faced an early challenge when one of the rocket’s six engines shut down prematurely. After a brief period of uncertainty, SpaceX’s flight team decided to continue the mission, performing a second engine burn to achieve the necessary velocity and altitude for orbital insertion. Approximately 26 minutes into the flight, the upper stage separated from the reusable Super Heavy booster and successfully entered a planned circular orbit around 275 kilometers (171 miles) above Earth, traveling at speeds close to 28,000 kilometers per hour (17,500 mph).

The mission, which lasted about three hours rather than the initially expected 10, saw Starship deploying its payload of 26 active Starlink V3 satellites designed to enhance broadband coverage and internet speeds worldwide. SpaceX reported that it had established contact with all the deployed satellites. Following the satellite deployment, the Starship was directed to deorbit and performed a controlled splashdown into the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster returned safely in a controlled landing in the Gulf of Mexico near the launch site.

Starship’s successful orbital flight comes three months after SpaceX's record-breaking initial public offering, which valued the company at $2 trillion. The rocket, currently the largest and most powerful ever built, is central to Musk’s ambitions for deep space exploration, including manned missions to the Moon and Mars. Its design aims for full reusability and a maximum payload capacity of up to 250 tonnes, positioning it as the successor to SpaceX’s Falcon rockets, which currently conduct more than 100 launches annually.

Starship’s development has been marked by a series of tests and setbacks, including several suborbital launches ending in explosions, issues with satellite deployment mechanisms, and challenges with rocket stability. Despite these setbacks, this orbital success represents a key step toward commercial flights and more advanced missions, such as in-orbit refueling and crewed space missions.

Experts highlight the complexity of the orbital insertion maneuver, noting the significant engineering challenges involved in managing different gravitational forces and achieving precise velocity requirements. The launch is seen as ushering in a new phase of development for the program, potentially accelerating SpaceX’s plans to expand its satellite constellation and pursue interplanetary exploration.

At midday trading in New York, SpaceX shares were down slightly, reflecting cautious investor sentiment despite the milestone achievement. Nonetheless, the successful Starship flight underscores SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to revolutionize space travel and satellite internet technologies.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.