Starship Reaches Orbit for the First Time; Explodes in Ocean After Deploying 26 Satellites

SpaceX's Starship rocket has reached Earth's orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. However, the mission was cut short due to engine issues. Later, while attempting a controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean, the vehicle caught fire and exploded.

Starship launched on Monday (September 28) from Starbase, near Brownsville, Texas. The complete rocket, including the Super Heavy booster, stands roughly as tall as a 40-story building. This marked Starship's 14th test flight.
Shortly after liftoff, one of Starship's main engines shut down prematurely during separation from the booster. Although initial reports suggested reaching orbit might not be possible, engineers managed the situation by utilizing the remaining engines. Ultimately, the satellites were successfully deployed at an altitude of approximately 269 kilometers.

Elon Musk announced on the social media platform X that all 26 Starlink V3 satellites reached their designated orbits and are functioning normally. This was Starship's first revenue-generating commercial mission. Dean Sladen, Quality Manager at Accu Components, described the successful satellite deployment as a major achievement.

Due to the engine malfunction, the mission—originally planned to last 10 hours—concluded in about three hours. During the return, thrusters were used to orient the vehicle vertically for its descent into the ocean. Upon touching the water, the lower section caught fire; the vehicle then tilted over, resulting in a massive explosion. There were no plans to recover and reuse Starship following this mission.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on the achievement of reaching orbit and for conducting the mission safely and responsibly.
According to SpaceX, the new V3 satellites can handle ten times more data than the previous V2 Mini versions. The company's expenditure on Starship's development has already exceeded $15 billion; test flights began in 2023. Meanwhile, SpaceX's share price fell by 2 percent on Monday. At the close of trading the previous Friday, the company's market value stood at approximately $2 trillion.