SpaceX Starship reaches orbit on Flight 15 after second engine burn
SpaceX successfully ignited Starship’s second engine burn about 25 minutes after liftoff, sending the vehicle into orbit and deploying Starlink satellites during its 22-hour test flight.
SpaceX’s Starship vehicle entered orbit on its fifteenth test flight after mission controllers approved a second engine burn roughly 25 minutes after launch. The decision came after an early engine shutdown that had initially led controllers to consider aborting the orbital attempt.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that SpaceX’s actions remained within the approved flight criteria and that the agency monitored all launch and re-entry activities.
Reaching orbit marks a shift from previous “passively safe” sub-orbital tests, where the vehicle would automatically re-enter the atmosphere even if control was lost. In orbit, the spacecraft must rely on active guidance and may require early-return options if anomalies arise.
During the flight, Starship deployed a batch of Starlink satellites, which SpaceX said provided the equivalent of ten Falcon 9 launches in bandwidth capacity. NASA’s Jared Isaacman praised the satellite deployment and noted the mission’s relevance to upcoming Artemis III lunar testing.
The mission includes several pre-programmed checkpoints where controllers assess vehicle health and can order an early splash-down if needed. The first checkpoint, at 1 hour 27 minutes, was passed without reported issues.
Starship’s heat shield is being monitored by modified Starlink satellites equipped with cameras, providing real-time imagery to help determine whether the vehicle can attempt a landing back in South Texas.
The Super Heavy booster completed its flight with a splash-down in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship spacecraft continues its 22-hour trajectory, with a potential landing attempt expected tomorrow.