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Technology and Science28 September, 20262 min read

SpaceX Launches Starship Into Orbit, Deploys 26 Starlink Satellites, Ends Early After Engine Issue

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Starship reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink satellites. One engine failed during ascent, mission shortened to about three hours.

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SpaceX Launches Starship Into Orbit, Deploys 26 Starlink Satellites, Ends Early After Engine Issue
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Orbit, then early return

SpaceX launched its Starship into orbit for the first time on Monday, deploying 26 Starlink satellites before ending the mission early due to an engine issue. Mission Control announced "Starship is orbital," after one of Starship's three engines shut down too soon and engineers confirmed the craft could still attempt an engine firing to boost it into orbit. SpaceX cut the mission from a planned 10 hours to three hours after the engine problem, and the spacecraft later re-entered the atmosphere for a controlled and fiery landing in the Pacific Ocean.

SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk wrote on X, "First orbital flight of Starship successful!" as Starship reached orbital altitude and then splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said the 26 next-generation Starlink satellites were deployed one after another at an altitude of about 269 kilometers and were operating normally.

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Image: 20Minutos
Reporting for this sectionABCchinadailyhk

Engine failure and decision

SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot told the company live mission broadcast that the vehicle would not reach orbit after one of its three main engines shut down prematurely. Huot said, "The team made the decision not to attempt to reach orbit," before Mission Control reversed course minutes later after an update from engineers. SpaceX then proceeded with the orbital attempt, and the mission shortened to three hours as Starship deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites at an altitude of about 269 kilometers.

SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said on X, "All 26 working Starlink satellites (v1.3) have been deployed and are operating normally." SpaceX's Super Heavy booster returned for a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after separating from the Starship upper stage.

Image from ABC
Image: ABC
Reporting for this sectionAl-Khaleej

Artemis stakes and next steps

SpaceX said the orbital milestone was aimed at certifying Starship for orbital flight, a vital step toward NASA's Artemis moon program. NASA's Artemis IV mission is slated for no sooner than 2028, and the sources said astronauts would land on the moon in either Jeff Bezos's Blue Moon or Starship, whichever is ready first. SpaceX planned to phase out its Falcon 9 rocket within several years, and the sources tied Starship to future missions to the moon and Mars.

SpaceX's Starship was described as designed to be fully reusable, and Elon Musk said at a business summit earlier this month, "That's why we're being extremely cautious here." NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on reaching orbit and managing the mission "in a safe, responsible and especially inspirational way."

Reporting for this sectionABCLivemint