SpaceX's next-generation Starship rocket lifted off from Texas on Monday (September 28) and reached orbit for the first time, with one of its engines down, making a risky bid to deploy its first batch of Starlink satellites in the company's most ambitious mission yet.

The uncrewed 40-story-tall vehicle, consisting of a Super Heavy booster rocket topped by the main upper-stage Starship vessel, thundered off its launch pad from SpaceX's Starbase complex along the Gulf of Mexico near Brownsville.

SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot on the company's live stream of the mission initially declared Starship unable to reach orbit after one of its engines shut down earlier than planned. But Huot reversed course minutes later after an update from engineers confirmed that the craft could still attempt a key engine firing that would boost it into orbit.

Starship, built to launch SpaceX's Starlink satellites more frequently and carry future NASA missions to the moon, was expected to complete six Earth orbits during a 10-hour voyage — its longest yet — before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SpaceX's Starship reaches orbit despite engine issue

VIDEO SHOWS: LAUNCH OF SPACEX STARSHIP WITH NARRATION DISCUSSING ONE ENGINE FAILURE AND DECISION TO SEND TO ORBIT / STARSHIP IN ORBIT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: STARBASE, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 28, 2026) (SPACEX - Broadcast: For editorial use only. No resales Digital: For editorial use only. No resales)

1. VARIOUS OF STARSHIP LAUNCH

2. STARSHIP FLYING

3. STARSHIP FLYING WITH VIEW OF BOOSTER AS OFF-CAMERA NARRATION IDENTIFIES 32 OF 33 ENGINES OPERATIONAL (NOT A SOUNDBITE)

4. STARSHIP FLYING

5. BOOSTER SEPARATING

6. STARSHIP FLYING, EARTH IN BACKGROUND

7. BOOSTER LANDING, CHEERS OFF-CAMERA

8. VIEW OF EARTH FROM STARSHIP WITH OFF-CAMERA NARRATION EXPLAINING THE LOSS OF ONE ENGINE (NOT A SOUNDBITE)

9. STARSHIP FLYING / (SOUNDBITE) (English) OFF-CAMERA, SPACEX SPOKESPERSON, DAN HUOT, SAYING:

"The go / no go pull for orbit has finished. And we are go for orbit." / OFF-CAMERA CHEERING

10. STAFF CHEERING

11. SECOND BURN BEGINNING

12. SPLIT SCREEN SHOWING VIEWS OF STARSHIP DURING SECOND BURN / (SOUNDBITE) (English) OFF-CAMERA, SPACEX SPOKESPERSON, DAN HUOT, SAYING:

"Burn 2 shutdown. No alerts or alarms. That's always a great thing to hear."

13. STARSHIP IN ORBIT / (SOUNDBITE) (English) OFF-CAMERA, SPACEX SPOKESPERSON, DAN HUOT, SAYING::

"Alright. Successful orbital insertion burn. Starship is in orbit."