1 hr ago
SpaceX Starship Reaches Orbit Before Early Pacific Splashdown
SpaceX launched its very large Starship rocket from Texas.
For the first time, Starship reached orbit around Earth.
It carried 26 Starlink satellites and released them successfully.
One engine stopped earlier than expected, but the other engines kept the flight going.
SpaceX had planned to fly for about 10 hours, but controllers chose to end the mission sooner.
The spacecraft came back through the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.
It splashed down near Hawaii and then tipped over and burned.
SpaceX is testing Starship for future moon missions, satellite launches, and possibly trips to Mars.
SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time during a launch from Texas.
The spacecraft deployed 26 advanced Starlink satellites while traveling at about 17,500 mph.
One engine shut down early, but flight controllers continued after determining the mission remained safe.
SpaceX ended the planned 10-hour flight after roughly two laps around Earth.
Starship reentered over the Pacific and splashed down north of Hawaii, where it tipped over and caught fire.
- Who
- SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, conducted the launch, with NASA monitoring its significance for future Artemis missions.
- What
- Starship reached orbit for the first time, deployed 26 Starlink satellites, and completed an early reentry and splashdown.
- Where
- The rocket launched from Starbase in southern Texas and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii.
- When
- Monday; the spacecraft splashed down about three hours after liftoff.
- Why
- SpaceX is testing Starship for reusable orbital launches and future missions to the Moon and Mars, including NASA’s Artemis program.
Key facts
- Rocket height
- 407 feet (124 meters)
- Launch location
- Starbase, southern Texas
- Payload
- 26 advanced Starlink satellites
- Target flight
- Approximately 10 hours and six laps around Earth
- Actual flight
- About three hours and roughly two laps
- Orbit altitude
- 170 miles (275 kilometers)
- Splashdown
- Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii
Quotes
SpaceX Mission Control
SpaceX flight controllers overseeing the Starship mission
“If the spacecraft breaks apart over land and rains debris onto people, our popularity would diminish very rapidly. That's why we're being extremely cautious here.”
NDTV
“Starship is orbital”
NDTV
Sources
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