Starship reaches orbit and delivers satellites, but reuse remains unproven

SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on September 28 and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites — its first real payload delivery after 13 suborbital test flights.

The launch took place at Starbase, Texas, as the 14th flight. An engine shut down prematurely after separation from the Super Heavy booster, and SpaceX shortened the planned 10-hour mission to about 3 hours. The ship touched down upright in the Pacific, then tipped over and burned; recovery was never planned.

The flight turns Starship from a test rocket into a vehicle that has completed one deployment, but neither stage was recovered. SpaceX's planned constellation of Starlink V3 satellites and NASA's Moon lander both still depend on full reusability and in-orbit refueling, neither of which is proven.