SpaceX launched the Starship orbital mission from the company’s Starbase complex at Boca Chica Beach in Texas, sending the 171-foot-tall vehicle to orbit for the first time on a pivotal test flight.
At 7:48 a.m. CT, the Super Heavy booster ignited 33 engines to begin Starship’s 14th flight, according to the company. About two and a half minutes after liftoff, the spacecraft separated from the booster and continued toward space.
One of Starship’s six engines failed during ascent, prompting an internal review on whether to proceed. Roughly 22 minutes into the mission, controllers determined it was safe to continue to orbit.
Starship orbital mission flight profile and objectives
Super Heavy is designed to fly back to its launch site to be caught by the launch tower for reuse. For this mission, the booster simulated a landing offshore in the Gulf of Mexico as SpaceX evaluated software and hardware upgrades.
No crew was aboard. Mission planners initially targeted a 10-hour flight with six Earth orbits at about 170 miles in altitude.
After launch, managers shortened the mission to roughly three hours. Previous Starship flights were suborbital, and Flight 14 marks the first time the vehicle is expected to achieve orbital velocity of about 17,500 mph.
The profile includes segments that would allow the spacecraft to abandon the orbital trajectory and return safely if required, the company said. During the flight, SpaceX deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, adding to its globe-spanning broadband network.
The company routinely flies Starlink payloads on Falcon 9 from Florida and California, but announced last month that its final Florida Starlink mission on Falcon 9 had flown, with plans to transition Starlink launches on Florida’s Space Coast to Starship.
With the revised timeline, Starship is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. SpaceX ultimately intends to recover and reuse the vehicle.
Starlink payloads and thermal protection testing
The test is designed to evaluate critical Starship systems, including the thermal protection system. Three of the deployed Starlink satellites carry cameras to gather data on the spacecraft’s heat shield during reentry, a capability central to the company’s reusability goals.
SpaceX has tied Starship directly to its long-term growth strategy. The company says only Starship can carry the larger V3 Starlink satellites.
In filings ahead of its June IPO, SpaceX cautioned that delays in developing Starship at scale, or in achieving the required launch cadence and reusability, could hinder its plans.
NASA partnership and future launch sites
Starship also features in NASA’s lunar return architecture. The agency has contracted SpaceX to adapt Starship as a human landing system for future Artemis missions.
NASA plans to test docking of its Orion crew capsule with Starship, alongside a separate commercial lander by Blue Origin, during Artemis III, targeted for late next year.
Separately, SpaceX outlined plans for a major complex in Louisiana to support Starship operations. The company cited a $100 billion investment for dozens of launch pads, with a goal of initiating launches from Starbase, La., starting in 2029.