SpaceX puts Starship megarocket in orbit for first time

SpaceX's Starship megarocket achieved orbit for the first time on Monday after launching from Texas, representing a significant milestone in the company's ambitious plans for future space exploration. The massive 120-meter-tall black-and-silver vehicle soared through a dense cloud of smoke during its ambitious 14th test flight, reaching orbit approximately 26 minutes into the approximately 10-hour journey.

The experimental rocket's upper stage separated from the Super Heavy booster and successfully orbited Earth several times, deploying 26 next-generation Starlink satellites. The launch team made a second burn shortly after liftoff to reach orbit, with one member declaring, "Starship is orbital" and elation breaking out among onlookers.

This latest test, occurring three months after SpaceX's high-profile stock market debut, aims to expedite the development of the world's largest and most powerful rocket ever designed. Despite numerous technical challenges remaining, SpaceX hopes that this new phase of development will include orbit refueling tests. The second burn required significant force and complex calculations as the rocket dealt with varying levels of gravity.

Upon reaching orbit, the spacecraft began deploying the next-generation Starlink satellites, designed to expand the company's extensive satellite internet network. The entire journey was expected to conclude in the Pacific Ocean after the rocket orbited Earth six times.