--- title: "SpaceX Starship reaches low-Earth orbit after 14 flights" url: https://noti.group/spacex-starship-reaches-low-earth-orbit-after-14-flights/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Technology" published: 2026-10-02T13:54:34.000Z updated: 2026-10-02T19:52:56.767Z id: fd96d77b-1d83-403d-b0a5-3cecd266ae69 source: "Ars Technica https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/rocket-report-spacex-completes-launch-triple-header-rocket-lab-nets-big-contract/" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/spacex-starship-reaches-low-earth-orbit-after-14-flights/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # SpaceX Starship reaches low-Earth orbit after 14 flights This milestone marks a significant achievement for SpaceX, allowing it to provide faster and more reliable connectivity to remote areas around the world. SpaceX's Starship rocket has finally reached low-Earth orbit after 14 flights. This milestone was achieved on Monday morning, marking a significant achievement for the company and its new super-heavy rocket. Starship had previously gone 99% of the way to orbit but was held back by concerns about stranding the massive rocket in space. The success of this launch has major implications for SpaceX's Starlink network. The first 26 of the new-generation Starlink V3 satellites were successfully deployed on Monday, unlocking a significant growth potential for the network. This achievement is likely to be seen as a major breakthrough for SpaceX and its ambitious plans for satellite internet. SpaceX's journey to this point has been long and challenging. Despite facing setbacks and delays, the company has continued to push forward with its Starship program. The success of this launch is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the SpaceX team. The Starlink V3 satellites are part of a larger effort by SpaceX to expand its satellite internet network. With the deployment of these new satellites, SpaceX can now provide faster and more reliable connectivity to remote areas around the world. This achievement has significant implications for global communication and connectivity. Rocket Lab has also announced a major contract win with Japanese company Synspective. The 20-mission agreement is one of the largest Electron launch service agreements signed by Rocket Lab to date. Synspective is a key customer for Rocket Lab, having launched 13 of its StriX radar satellites on the Electron rocket since 2020. The latest agreement extends Synspective's total bookings with Rocket Lab to 47 launches, including the 13 already flown. This significant commitment from Synspective is a vote of confidence in Rocket Lab's launch services and mission reliability. Rocket Lab's founder and CEO, Peter Beck, hailed the deal as "a massive vote of confidence" in his company's capabilities. The agreement underscores the growing demand for dedicated launch services and Rocket Lab's position as a leading player in this market. The success of both SpaceX and Rocket Lab is a testament to the rapid progress being made in the space industry. With new technologies and innovations emerging regularly, it seems that the boundaries of what is possible are constantly being pushed back. A Portuguese company has acquired the assets of Orbex, the Scottish rocket maker that ceased operations earlier this year. Omnidea, the buyer, plans to establish its UK presence at Orbex's former manufacturing facility in Scotland. The deal includes the purchase of intellectual property and assets from the defunct rocket developer. Omnidea, which was previously a partner of Orbex, intends to use the Scottish base as a center for structures development and fabrication, as well as a hub for flight and ground system electronics. The company is also exploring other markets beyond its current role as a supplier of propulsion components in the European space industry. Orbex's Prime rocket, which was never launched, appears to be irretrievable despite Omnidea's acquisition of Orbex's assets. It seems that the Prime rocket will not be revived or reused by the new owner. Meanwhile, SpaceX has successfully completed its third consecutive launch this week, with a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission is part of a busy schedule for SpaceX, which has been launching at an unprecedented rate in recent weeks. The crew members on board the Dragon spacecraft are headed for a six-month expedition on the International Space Station. They departed from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral at 11:10 am EDT and reached orbit nine minutes later. One notable aspect of this mission is that it marks the first time a Black woman has led a crew into space, with Jessica Watkins serving as commander. Her crewmate Joshua Kutryk, a Canadian astronaut, will be flying to the ISS while his wife is expecting their third child later this year. This launch was delayed several weeks due to a leaky valve on Dragon's propulsion system, which required an unusual repair method involving cutting out the suspect valve and welding in a new one. The fix appears to have been successful, allowing the mission to proceed as planned. The crew members are set to dock with the ISS Thursday evening, marking the beginning of their six-month expedition. This is just one of several missions that SpaceX has launched recently, highlighting the company's busy schedule and growing presence in the space industry. SpaceX's 21st human spaceflight launch is a testament to the company's increasing capabilities and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space exploration. Canada is joining the growing list of countries investing in their own space capabilities, driven by a desire for sovereignty over their access to space. The country's interest in developing its own launch systems has been heightened by the current tensions between the US and Canada. The Canadian government has awarded funding to three companies - NordSpace, Reaction Dynamics, and Canada Rocket Company - to support the development of "light lift" rockets. However, one of these companies is now aiming higher with plans for a medium-lift rocket. Canada Rocket Company's decision to bypass the small launch segment and go straight for a more ambitious medium-lift rocket mirrors the approach taken by several US launch providers. The company believes that building a smaller rocket would not be an effective way to mitigate development risks. According to Hugh Kolias, chief executive of Canada Rocket Company, the advice from industry experts is clear: starting with a smaller rocket will not de-risk a development program. He cites input from engineers at SpaceX and elsewhere in the industry to support this claim. The company's R-2 rocket design bears some resemblance to SpaceX's Falcon 9, with nine engines and landing legs that suggest a future path towards first-stage reuse. If all goes according to plan, the R-2 could carry up to 12.5 metric tons into low-Earth orbit by 2032. Meanwhile, SpaceX has successfully completed two launches in quick succession, showcasing its growing capabilities in space exploration. On Thursday afternoon, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 130 payloads into polar Sun-synchronous orbit as part of the Transporter-18 mission. The Transporter-18 mission was not only notable for its sheer number of payloads but also for the diversity of spacecraft and equipment on board. The flight included an artificial intelligence prototype from Google, a methane-tracker, and pharmaceutical manufacturing labs among other cargo. SpaceX's Falcon 9 launches continue to be a crucial part of the commercial satellite industry's growth, providing relatively affordable and predictable access to space for companies like Google and Planet Labs. These tech powerhouses have come to rely on SpaceX's rideshare launches, which offer a cost-effective way to deploy satellites into orbit. The Transporter-18 mission featured a diverse range of customers, from established players in the remote sensing market to newer startups looking to make their mark. Starfish Space, for example, was among the companies launching its first payload on this mission. The variety of payloads and launch providers is a testament to the growing complexity and diversity of the satellite industry. SpaceX's own Starship rocket has been making steady progress in recent months, with the 14th test flight marking another significant milestone for the program. This particular launch was notable for its decision to fly at full capability, rather than dialing back the performance as had been done on previous suborbital flights. The result was a successful insertion into low-Earth orbit, with Starship reaching the desired altitude and velocity. This achievement is an important step towards the rocket's eventual use in lunar missions and other deep space endeavors. In addition to its own Starship prototype, this launch carried 26 of SpaceX's newest generation of Starlink broadband satellites. These flat-packed satellites are designed for high-speed internet connectivity and were deployed from the payload bay using a system of pulleys and cables. The deployment process was largely successful, with all but one satellite released into orbit. The failed engine during ascent forced SpaceX to cut short the planned 10-hour test flight, but the vehicle still managed to make a pinpoint splashdown at its backup return site north of Hawaii. The failure of one Raptor engine highlights the ongoing development challenges facing Starship's propulsion system. Despite this setback, the mission marked an important step forward for the program and demonstrated the rocket's ability to operate in low-Earth orbit. NASA has decided to financially support Boeing's Starliner spacecraft by exercising options to purchase two additional flights on the vehicle. This move aims to preserve a path for astronauts to travel to low-Earth orbit as SpaceX prepares to retire its Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft. Boeing will receive $359 million from NASA to complete a rebuild of the reaction control system thrusters that have overheated in flight. The space agency has also decided to certify United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket for human missions, providing an alternative to the Atlas V rocket that is set to retire. The use of ULA's Vulcan rocket would be necessary for any future Starliner flights beyond the initial six crewed missions ordered by NASA. This decision reflects the changing landscape in space travel as companies and governments adapt to new technologies and priorities. SpaceX has completed a remarkable triple-header launch over the course of just 13 hours, demonstrating its ability to operate at an intense pace. The company launched two Falcon 9 rockets and a Falcon Heavy mission on Thursday, showcasing its capabilities in various contexts. The first Falcon 9 launch carried the next four-person crew to the International Space Station, highlighting SpaceX's role in supporting ongoing research and exploration efforts. A second Falcon 9 lifted off from California on a rideshare mission, underscoring the company's willingness to accommodate diverse customers and payloads. SpaceX's triple-header included the launch of its massive Falcon Heavy rocket with a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. This successful demonstration of the vehicle's capabilities underscores SpaceX's commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space travel. The recent flurry of activity from SpaceX has been notable, with the company continuing to expand its reach and capabilities in the space industry. As the landscape continues to evolve, NASA's decision to support Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will have significant implications for the future of US spaceflight. SpaceX concluded its launch triple-header by successfully placing a classified payload into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), marking the first time a Falcon Heavy rocket carried a NRO payload. The launch was notable not just for its significance to national security, but also for the impressive feat of landing both side boosters from the Falcon Heavy back at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This achievement adds to SpaceX's growing reputation for reusability and efficiency in space launches. The highly inclined orbit chosen for the payload suggests a specific mission requirement that will be closely watched by industry observers. Blue Origin is reportedly seeking permission to significantly increase the launch rate of its New Glenn rocket, according to documents released this week. This move comes as the company continues to recover from an explosion on one of its launch pads in May, and would represent a major shift in the company's operations. The proposed increase in launch frequency for New Glenn is outlined in a draft environmental assessment submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will now consider the request. The outcome of this process will have significant implications for the development and deployment of Blue Origin's next-generation space capabilities. --- Source: [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/rocket-report-spacex-completes-launch-triple-header-rocket-lab-nets-big-contract/) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/spacex-starship-reaches-low-earth-orbit-after-14-flights/