SpaceX's Starship Reaches Orbit for the First Time, Deploying 26 Starlink Satellites Before an Early Return

September 29, 2026 | New York, NY

The third flight of the V3 Starship lost one of its six Raptor engines after separation, and SpaceX brought the upper stage back after roughly 1.5 hours rather than the planned nine

SpaceX's Starship launched from South Texas early Monday and reached Earth orbit for the first time, a milestone for the world's largest rocket. The upper stage deployed 26 third-generation Starlink satellites, even after losing one of its six Raptor engines following stage separation. Flight teams briefly called off the attempt before deciding to continue minutes later.

SpaceX ended the flight earlier than planned, bringing the vehicle back after about 1.5 hours instead of the intended nine, a decision the company framed as prioritizing safety. The V3 satellites are expected to begin serving customers within weeks.

Looking ahead, SpaceX has outlined plans for a new Louisiana Starbase facility with a projected $100 billion investment, aimed at supporting thousands of Starship flights per year. Reaching orbit is a prerequisite for that ambition, making Monday's flight a meaningful step even with its imperfect ending.

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