Story Science Space & Astronomy

SpaceX launches massive Starship into orbit for the first time despite engine shutting down

12 outlets 13 reports Published Sep 28, 2026

Science

The brief

Founder Elon Musk intends for the Starship to circle the globe six times from an altitude of 170 miles. Until now, all Starship flights have been suborbital, meaning the capsules did not complete a loop around the Earth. Key points and original sources are listed below.

Founder Elon Musk intends for the Starship to circle the globe six times from an altitude of 170 miles.S1

Until now, all Starship flights have been suborbital, meaning the capsules did not complete a loop around the Earth.S2

Founder Elon Musk’s showpiece rocket is aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program.S3 S4

The mission is ongoing and the rocket is expected to reach orbit roughly 25 minutes after liftoff.S7

System is pivotal to Elon Musk’s ambitions to win more Nasa contracts and transport humans to the Moon and MarsS8

Assembled from source summaries.

Timeline · newest first

1w Nypost

SpaceX launches massive Starship into orbit for the first time despite engine shutting down

Founder Elon Musk intends for the Starship to circle the globe six times from an altitude of 170 miles.

1w BBC

Watch: SpaceX launches Starship rocket into orbit for first time

Until now, all Starship flights have been suborbital, meaning the capsules did not complete a loop around the Earth.

1w Brisbanetimes

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

Founder Elon Musk’s showpiece rocket is aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program.

1w Smh · 2 reports

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

Founder Elon Musk’s showpiece rocket is aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program.

1w Theage

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

Founder Elon Musk’s showpiece rocket is aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program.

1w Moneyweb

SpaceX launches first starship flight to orbit in key test

The mission is ongoing and the rocket is expected to reach orbit roughly 25 minutes after liftoff.

1w Ft

SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit for the first time

System is pivotal to Elon Musk’s ambitions to win more Nasa contracts and transport humans to the Moon and Mars

1w Theglobeandmail

SpaceX’s supersized Starship launches into orbit for the first time

It is aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program

1w Internewscast

SpaceX Launches Starship on Its First Orbital Test Flight

Internewscast Internewscast SpaceX launched its Super Heavy-Starship rocket toward orbit Monday, marking a major… This Post: SpaceX Launches Starship on Its First Orbital Test Flig…

1w TechCrunch

SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit for the first time

Though not without some drama along the way.

1w Forbes

SpaceX’s Starship Reaches Orbit For First Time In Historic Flight 14

SpaceX Starship reached orbit for the first time on Monday, Sept. 28, as it began a 10-hour mission that will end with its splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

1w Phys

SpaceX's supersized Starship launches toward orbit for the first time

SpaceX launched its enormous Starship toward orbit for the first time Monday, aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA's Artemis moon program.

SpaceX launches massive Starship into orbit for the first time despite engine shutting down

Science Space & Astronomy

12 outlets 13 reports Published Sep 28, 2026

The brief

Founder Elon Musk intends for the Starship to circle the globe six times from an altitude of 170 miles.S1

Until now, all Starship flights have been suborbital, meaning the capsules did not complete a loop around the Earth.S2

Founder Elon Musk’s showpiece rocket is aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program.S3 S4

The mission is ongoing and the rocket is expected to reach orbit roughly 25 minutes after liftoff.S7

System is pivotal to Elon Musk’s ambitions to win more Nasa contracts and transport humans to the Moon and MarsS8

SpaceX launches massive Starship into orbit for the first time despite engine shutting down

SpaceX launches massive Starship into orbit for the first time despite engine shutting down

Watch: SpaceX launches Starship rocket into orbit for first time

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

SpaceX launches first starship flight to orbit in key test

SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit for the first time

SpaceX’s supersized Starship launches into orbit for the first time

SpaceX Launches Starship on Its First Orbital Test Flight

SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit for the first time

SpaceX’s Starship Reaches Orbit For First Time In Historic Flight 14

SpaceX's supersized Starship launches toward orbit for the first time

Related stories

Artemis II Astronauts Prepare for Historic Mission

NASA Prepares for Historic Moon Mission

NASA's Artemis II Mission Launches to the Moon

Artemis II Launch Preparations

SpaceX launches massive Starship into orbit for the first time despite engine shutting down

SpaceX launches massive Starship into orbit for the first time despite engine shutting down

Watch: SpaceX launches Starship rocket into orbit for first time

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit for first time

SpaceX launches first starship flight to orbit in key test

SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit for the first time

SpaceX’s supersized Starship launches into orbit for the first time

SpaceX Launches Starship on Its First Orbital Test Flight

SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit for the first time

SpaceX’s Starship Reaches Orbit For First Time In Historic Flight 14

SpaceX's supersized Starship launches toward orbit for the first time

Sources · 8 citations

Related stories

Artemis II Astronauts Prepare for Historic Mission

NASA Prepares for Historic Moon Mission

NASA's Artemis II Mission Launches to the Moon

Artemis II Launch Preparations