# Starbase, Texas

Type: Company

Source: Space & Defense Intelligence Brief — https://getspacebrief.com/entity/starbase-texas
Canonical HTML page: https://getspacebrief.com/entity/starbase-texas

## Timeline

- **2026-09-28**: Starship lifts off from Starbase — SpaceX's uncrewed 40-story Starship/Super Heavy stack launches on its 14th test flight from Starbase, Texas.
- **2026-09-28**: Super Heavy booster completes gulf splashdown — The Super Heavy booster returns to Gulf of Mexico waters for an engine-controlled splashdown after lofting the upper stage toward space.
- **2026-09-28**: Engine anomaly and orbit recommitment — One of Starship's three main engines shuts down early. Spokesperson Dan Huot initially says the team will not commit to orbit, then reverses after engineers confirm the craft can still perform the orbit-insertion burn.
- **2026-09-28**: Starship reaches orbit and deploys Starlink satellites — The vehicle completes its first orbital insertion and begins deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites one by one at roughly 161 miles altitude.
- **2026-09-28**: Six-orbit voyage and Pacific splashdown planned — Starship is expected to finish six Earth orbits during a 10-hour voyage before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

## Recent coverage (1 stories)

### Starship's First Orbital Flight Deploys 26 Starlink V3 Satellites
2026-09-29 15:11:57 · Sentiment: Strongly positive · Impact: 9/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on September 28, 2026, flying its 14th test mission and validating a critical milestone for heavy-lift reuse. Despite one of three main engines shutting down early, the vehicle deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites at roughly 161 miles. The flight clears the way for routine Starship launches later this year and future NASA lunar missions.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-first-orbit-starlink-deploy

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