❯ SpaceX’s Starship reaches orbit for the first time and deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites, roughly ten times a Falcon 9 launch’s added capacity

First orbit, first payloadNPR reports that Starship lifted off from Starbase, Texas, at 7:48 a.m. CT on September 28, on its 14th flight and first attempt to reach orbit. According to the Associated Press, it delivered 26 of SpaceX’s most advanced Starlink satellites to orbit, joining about 11,000 in service.

One launch does the work of tenSpace.com and other outlets say each V3 satellite is designed for about 1 Tbps, so the 26 together add about 26 Tbps, roughly ten times a Falcon 9 launch carrying V2 Mini satellites. It is also the first time Starship has completed a satellite deployment with real operational use.

Not without glitchesThe flight had flaws: the Super Heavy booster lost one engine early and relit only 31 of 33 engines on its way back, and one of the ship’s six engines shut down early, though it was not needed again and SpaceX continued the mission.

The next test is flying oftenReaching orbit shows Starship can deliver satellites, and capacity per launch is indeed larger. Whether it lowers Starlink’s cost per bit depends on launching frequently and reliably from here. Rival satellite-internet operators face a widening capacity gap.

▪ SIGNALHow much a rocket can carry is not the point; whether it can fly every week decides if that capacity is a number on paper or a real cost.