SpaceX & Launches·Starship
Update: Starship Flight 14 reaches orbit, deploys 26 Starlinks, splashes down in Pacific
SpaceX’s Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time on Flight 14 on Monday, Sept. 28, lifting off from Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, at about 7:48 a.m. CT, Space.com reported. After an early Raptor engine shutdown on Ship that briefly cast doubt on the plan, controllers pressed ahead; Ship entered orbit, deployed 26 Starlink Version 3 satellites, then shortened the planned ~10-hour mission and splashed down in the northern Pacific about three hours and eight minutes after liftoff. Super Heavy booster B21 made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf about seven minutes after liftoff with no recovery attempt; full World News Updates are at our before- and after-liftoff stories.
Sources
- SpaceSpaceX launches Starship into orbit for 1st time — Flight 14
- World Brief NowWorld News Update: SpaceX launches Starship Flight 14 from Starbase, Texas