# SpaceX Starship explodes during ocean landing after orbital test Historic orbital flight ends in fiery splashdown despite mission success. - **Source:** [Science & tech Articles | Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.com?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490) - **Published:** 2026-09-28 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d7f37ea0-ffc9-46a1-a5f1-28de5dc1b9f5 ## Historic orbital achievement SpaceX's Starship successfully reached orbit for the first time during its test flight, marking a significant milestone despite the eventual explosion. The uncrewed vehicle launched from Starbase in Texas and completed key maneuvers including stage separation. This test demonstrated critical capabilities needed for future NASA missions and commercial spaceflight operations. ## Mission timeline deviations The planned 10-hour mission was cut short when one of Starship's three Raptor engines unexpectedly shut down during ascent. SpaceX adjusted the flight plan, bringing Starship back after just 3 hours in orbit. The spacecraft still managed to deploy 26 next-gen Starlink satellites before beginning its premature return sequence. ## Dramatic splashdown failure Starship appeared to make a controlled descent toward its Pacific Ocean landing zone at 11:58 AM ET. However, seconds after hitting the water, the 40-story vehicle erupted in a massive fireball. Onshore cameras captured the explosion, though SpaceX's livestream commentary remained optimistic about the overall mission success. ## Technical milestones reached The flight achieved several firsts, including successful hot-stage separation from the Super Heavy booster at 2:34 minutes into flight. The booster completed its own landing burn as planned. Starship also demonstrated payload deployment capability, releasing upgraded Starlink satellites with 10x capacity of previous versions. ## NASA collaboration context NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman publicly congratulated SpaceX on the launch, highlighting its importance for the Artemis moon program. A modified Starship is planned to land astronauts on the moon by 2028. While the splashdown explosion raises questions, NASA expressed continued support for Starship's development process. ## Flight test progression This marked the 14th Starship test flight and the first to reach orbit. Previous attempts failed during earlier flight phases. SpaceX's iterative testing approach accepts failures as part of development, with each flight providing data to improve the vehicle's design and operational procedures. ## Future operational goals SpaceX ultimately aims for Starship to return to its Texas launch site for vertical landings, enabling rapid reuse. Current test flights intentionally end at sea with no recovery plans. The company must resolve engine reliability issues and perfect landing techniques before attempting ground returns with crewed missions. ## Industry implications Despite the explosive ending, the orbital demonstration advances commercial spaceflight capabilities. Successful payload deployment proves Starship's potential for satellite launches, while reaching orbit validates its deep-space mission architecture. The test provides valuable data for both SpaceX and NASA's ambitious exploration timelines. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16166129/spacex-starship-flight-texas-orbit.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._