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SpaceX’s Starship reaches Earth orbit on 14th test

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 10:17 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Starship Reaches Orbit

SpaceX's Starship reached Earth orbit on its 14th test flight, marking the vehicle's first U.S. orbital launch.
One of Starship's three Raptor engines shut down during ascent on September 28, 2026, prompting an early mission termination.
Starship deployed 26 operational Starlink V3 satellites at roughly 161 miles altitude, all reporting nominal performance.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the launch a safe, inspirational step toward lunar missions.

Summary

SpaceX Shares Slip

SpaceX shares fell just over 2% on Monday after the Starship launch, trading lower than a week earlier.
Up to 328 million shares became eligible for sale last week, triggering a sharp market sell-off.
The company’s market valuation sits just under $2 trillion, viewed as inflated given multi-billion-dollar losses.
A recent merger with Musk’s xAI AI lab deepened red-ink, raising investor concerns about debt repayment.

Summary

SpaceX Evaluates Tiles

Engineers say improved heat shields could cut post-flight repairs and speed vehicle turnaround.
The shield consists of roughly 18,000 hexagonal silica ceramic tiles on the vehicle’s underside.
Three newly deployed Starlink satellites carry cameras that photograph the heat shield after re-entry.
Re-flight tests will reuse two previously exposed tiles to assess long-term durability across missions.
Analysts note that without rapid, predictable heat-shield refurbishment, Starship’s hourly launch goal remains unrealistic.

History

Historical Context

SpaceX’s Falcon 1, Elon Musk’s small two-stage rocket, failed three launches between 2006 and early 2008 before achieving orbit on 28 September 2008, delivering a 165-kg test payload into a 400-km trajectory. The success earned NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract, funding the transition to the larger Falcon 9 and establishing the private-sector launch model that underpins today’s Starship program.

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Starship Reaches Orbit

SpaceX's Starship reached Earth orbit on its 14th test flight, marking the vehicle's first U.S. orbital launch.
One of Starship's three Raptor engines shut down during ascent on September 28, 2026, prompting an early mission termination.
Starship deployed 26 operational Starlink V3 satellites at roughly 161 miles altitude, all reporting nominal performance.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the launch a safe, inspirational step toward lunar missions.

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