Starship Flight 14 reaches orbit and deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites

SpaceX's Starship entered Earth orbit for the first time on Flight 14, deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, completed a deorbit burn, and splashed down at its intended Pacific target after an abbreviated orbital phase.

Starship lifted off from Starbase, Texas, at 7:48 a.m. CT. After one Raptor vacuum engine shut down early, the remaining engines compensated, and controllers cleared the vehicle for orbital operations. Starship then performed its first orbital insertion burn, deployed all 26 satellites, and later completed its first deorbit burn before reentry and splashdown.

Headline metrics

Payload deployed	26 Starlink V3 satellites
Launch time	7:48 a.m. CT
Flight milestone	First orbital Starship flight

Highlights

Orbital insertionA single sea-level Raptor reignited to place Starship into orbit around Earth for the first time.
Payload operationsAll 26 Starlink V3 satellites deployed, and SpaceX reported contact with every satellite.
ReturnControllers shortened the orbital phase after the ascent engine issue; Starship completed a deorbit burn and splashed down at the intended northern Pacific target.

Resources

SpaceX Flight 14 mission pagespacex.com