- SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time on Sep 28, 2026, launching from Starbase, Texas, after 13 suborbital attempts.
- The flight deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, three equipped with cameras to scan Starship’s heat shield during reentry.
- The mission proceeded despite one Raptor 3 engine shutting down during ascent; controlled ocean splashdowns for Super Heavy and Starship remain pending.
- Starship is central to SpaceX’s goal of reducing cost to orbit by 99% or more and NASA’s 2028 Artemis IV lunar mission.
- SPCX stock rose 0.75% to $149.80 on launch day as investors await splashdown and heat shield data.
Quotes
“reduce[ing] the cost to orbit by 99% or more”
“the stock (SPCX) only climbed 0.75% to $149.80 on launch day”
“Starship reached orbit for the first time Monday”