[REVISION HISTORY]

SpaceX Starship test program 2026

Updated 52 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-30 06:34 UTC → 2026-09-30 17:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

On September 28, 2026, SpaceX successfully completed its 14th Starship test flight, marking the vehicle’s first successful entry into Earth orbit. Launched from the Starbase facility in Texas, the mission involved the integrated Starship-Super Heavy system and demonstrated the vehicle's ability to carry operational payloads. During the ascent, engine malfunctions occurred, specifically affecting one Raptor engine on the Super Heavy booster and one of the six Raptor Vacuum engines on the Starship upper stage. Although engineers determined that sufficient propulsion remained to complete the orbital insertion maneuver, mission controllers opted for an early mission termination to prioritize safety. This reduced the total flight duration from a planned ten hours to approximately three hours, completing two orbits instead of the planned six. The spacecraft reached an orbital speed of approximately 17,500 miles per hour at an altitude of roughly 275 kilometers. The mission achieved its primary payload objective by deploying 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, which offer significantly higher data capacity and throughput than previous models. This marked the first time Starship has been used for a commercial payload deployment. Notably, three of these satellites were equipped with specialized cameras to monitor the Starship heat shield during reentry. The flight concluded with a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii, where the vehicle tipped over and erupted in flames upon impact. This successful deployment represents a transition for Starship from suborbital testing to functional orbital operations, supporting long-term goals of transporting cargo and crews to the Moon and Mars. Following the mission, industry analysts noted that SpaceX’s progress with Starship coincides with plans to phase out the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Showing the 50 most recent. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.