SpaceX’s Starship has reached orbit for the first time, marking a major milestone in the giant rocket’s test program.

The 14th test flight launched on September 29 as the first Starship mission aimed at orbit, according to Reuters syndicated reporting. The vehicle made it into space, opened its payload bay, and deployed 26 Starlink internet satellites.

Coverage by Nature World News and the American Journal of Transportation confirmed the orbital debut, noting that the flight then ended earlier than planned.

The mission tested the rocket’s ability to carry and release payloads in orbit, a key step toward making Starship fully reusable. Starship is designed to launch large numbers of satellites and, one day, carry cargo and crew to the Moon and Mars.

Earlier flights had tested the vehicle’s launch and landing systems, but none had reached a stable orbit with a working satellite deployment.

SpaceX has not yet released a full statement on why the flight ended early. Engineers will study the data before the next test.