SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, reached Earth orbit for the first time on Sept. 28, 2026. This mission, the rocket’s 14th test flight, also marked the first time that Starship deployed Starlink internet satellites into the existing larger constellation: 26 new next-generation nodes in total.
But not all went as planned. An engine went out, though SpaceX quickly determined Starship could still reach orbit without it. While SpaceX had planned for Starship to orbit the Earth six times, it changed gears and had Starship return after only two orbits. And the splashdown in the Pacific Ocean ended in a huge bang, rather than the soft landing the company had hoped for.
