Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Starship Flight 14 Reaches Orbit, Deploys 26 Starlink Satellites
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on Flight 14.
The spacecraft reached orbit even though one engine stopped working during its climb.
One or two booster engines may also have shut down.
The booster section separated and landed about seven minutes after launch.
Starship carried 26 newer Starlink satellites.
SpaceX said all 26 satellites were released into orbit.
The spacecraft was expected to circle Earth six times.
It was then expected to return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 14 reached orbit and deployed all 26 Starlink Version 3 satellites.
The spacecraft lost an engine during ascent, while one or two boosters may also have shut down.
All 33 boosters ignited at liftoff, and the booster section landed about seven minutes after separation.
The mission is Starship’s first revenue-generating flight and is intended to support more frequent satellite deployments.
Starship was expected to complete six Earth orbits before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.
- Who
- SpaceX launched Starship Flight 14, with Elon Musk and SpaceX executives cited in the mission’s context.
- What
- Starship reached orbit and deployed 26 Starlink Version 3 satellites despite an engine failure during ascent.
- When
- During Starship Flight 14; the article does not specify the calendar date.
- Where
- In orbit around Earth, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.
- Why
- The mission was intended to deploy Starlink satellites, support more frequent launches, and advance Starship’s reusable orbital missions.
- Mission
- Starship Flight 14
- Payload
- 26 Starlink Version 3 satellites
- Engine issue
- Starship lost an engine during ascent
- Boosters
- All 33 boosters ignited; one or two may have shut down during ascent
- Booster landing
- The boosters touched down about seven minutes after separation
- Planned flight profile
- Six Earth orbits during an approximately 10-hour voyage
- Planned splashdown
- Pacific Ocean west of Chile