Starship Reaches Earth Orbit for First Time

The mission finished sooner than expected. BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) reported that Starship came down in the Pacific Ocean after about three hours, although the original plan allowed roughly ten hours. SpaceX chose to end the flight early. Before returning, the ship released 26 new Starlink V3 satellites, which join a network providing internet services on Earth. According to The Guardian, four flaps controlled the ship's position and speed during its return. It fell towards the water on its side, then turned upright and slowed down. Flames appeared when it reached the water.

SpaceX wants Starship to carry people and cargo to destinations including the Moon and Mars. It also hopes to take up to 100 people on long journeys between planets. This test did not show that it could perform those tasks. The company plans to reuse rockets to reduce costs and the time between flights. A University of Leicester professor called the achievement a step towards carrying large loads to the Moon.