SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for the first time
SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket reached Earth orbit for the first time on Sunday. The milestone flight, the 14th test, lifted off from Texas.
The spacecraft deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites in orbit. It then returned to Earth after about three hours, shorter than the planned 10-hour mission.
SpaceX said one engine shut down early during the flight. Engineers will study the data before the next test, but called the mission a major step forward.
Starship is the largest rocket ever built. NASA plans to use a version of it to land astronauts on the Moon under the Artemis programme.
Elon Musk’s company aims to fly Starship regularly for satellite launches and deep-space missions. Each test brings the fully reusable design closer to routine flights.
The test programme has progressed rapidly since the first flight in 2023. SpaceX has moved from explosive early tests to controlled flights in under three years.
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