'Starship is in orbit': cheers go up as huge SpaceX rocket circles Earth for first time
Mission goes ahead despite some fears an initial engine failure after the Texas launch would scupper the attempt
TL;DR
- SpaceX's Starship rocket achieved Earth orbit for the first time.
- The launch occurred from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas.
- An engine failure on ascent initially threatened the mission's orbital attempt.
- Mission controllers decided to proceed, and Starship successfully completed its orbit burn.
- This flight is a key step towards future missions to the moon and Mars.
- Starship reached an altitude of approximately 171 miles (275km).
- The rocket deployed next-generation Starlink satellites during the mission.
- Previous test flights focused on simpler, suborbital trajectories.
- Elon Musk aims for fully reusable rockets to reduce space travel costs.
- Several previous Starship test flights have ended in failure.