SpaceX's Starship goes orbital, deploying first next-gen Starlinks
The first orbital launch of SpaceX's Starship rocket was a success, reaching a stable orbit at 171 miles altitude. The rocket's upper stage performed flawlessly, reigniting for 19 seconds to give Starship the nudge it needed. The maneuver added 204 mph to Starship's speed, a 1% boost.
The launch carried 26 Starlink V3 satellites, each weighing 2 metric tons. The Starlink V3s will bring significant upgrades to the Starlink constellation, including larger solar arrays and improved antennas. They're too large for Falcon 9, but perfect for Starship.
The success of the orbital launch is a major milestone for SpaceX. The company has a steady stream of Starships and Super Heavy boosters in production and testing. SpaceX aims to make these landings routine, enabling full and rapid reuse of Super Heavy and Starship.
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