SpaceX's 'biggest, most powerful' rocket reaches Earth orbit for first time

SpaceX's Starship achieved a historic milestone on Monday by reaching orbit for the first time ever, overcoming an early engine shutdown during ascent. The massive rocket lifted off from Starbase in Texas at 7:48 a.m. local time. For a moment, SpaceX flight controllers seemed to consider aborting the mission, but after analyzing the data, they gave the go-ahead for the orbital insertion engine burn.

A single engine fired, propelling the ship into space—marking the first time SpaceX had declared "Go for orbit." Reaching orbit places Starship on a path toward sustained flights around Earth, a crucial step toward SpaceX's ambitions of refueling in space and full reusability. The test, initially planned to have Starship circle Earth six times before returning, ended about three hours into flight without any clear explanation.

The engine shutdown, occurring in the ship's upper stage, was the first obstacle. However, the team focused on the three center engines needed for orbit and later departure, which remained healthy. Starship's first stage, Super Heavy, also performed well, making a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the early return, the test was deemed wildly successful by the hosts.