LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- SpaceX's Starship spacecraft reached orbit for the first time on Monday and deployed 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites before ending its test mission earlier than planned.
The rocket lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in the U.S. state of Texas at about 7:48 a.m. Central Time (1248 GMT).
Shortly after launch, the Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Starship upper stage deployed the 26 Starlink V3 satellites, marking the first time the next-generation satellites were deployed into orbit by Starship.
The upper stage was originally planned to remain in flight for about 10 hours, but the mission was shortened to about three hours after one of the engines shut down unexpectedly during ascent.
This was the 14th integrated test flight of the Starship system. ■
