Video: SpaceX Starship makes fiery splashdown after deploying next-generation Starlink V3 satellites
Minutes into the uncrewed spacecraft's ascent, the rocket lost one of its engines. Flight controllers ultimately decided that the spacecraft was "go" for orbit and continued the mission, FOX Business reported.
SpaceX Starship returns to Earth and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean
🚀 SPLASHDOWN: The 14th flight of the SpaceX Starship successfully launched and landed in the Pacific Ocean after delivering the first-ever 26 V3 Starlink satellites.
The 14th flight of the SpaceX Starship completed a brief mission around Earth and ended with a fiery splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Monday.
The mission ended three hours earlier than planned after the rocket successfully deployed 26 Starlink Next Gen satellites.
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Minutes into the uncrewed spacecraft's ascent, the rocket lost one of its engines, FOX Business reported. Flight controllers ultimately decided that the spacecraft was "go" for orbit and continued the mission.
SpaceX ultimately made the call to end Starship's first orbital mission earlier than planned. Around noon, Starship splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, FOX Business reported.
This mission marks the first time SpaceX officials will deploy Starlink V3 satellites into the constellation, delivering a payload that will expand connectivity speeds and reliability worldwide.
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These satellites have an upgraded phased array antenna that directs communication beams to user terminals, according to SpaceX.
Each Starlink V3 satellite is equipped with six high-capacity 400-gigabit space lasers, allowing high-bandwidth traffic to flow uninterrupted between any points in the world.
SpaceX starship returns to Earth and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean. (@SpaceX / X)
This mission includes six orbits around the world and the first delivery of 26 V3 Starlink satellites. It carries 10 times the payload of the V2 mini satellites on the Falcon 9 rocket.
After the satellites are deployed, they unfold their antennas and deploy solar arrays to make initial contact with Earth, after which they will begin raising their orbits using onboard thrusters and should begin serving customers within the next few weeks, according to SpaceX.
After the mission was completed, the Starship returned to Earth's orbit, where the reusable spacecraft landed in a fiery splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX said Super Heavy — which is the reusable first stage of the SpaceX Starship superheavy-lift launch vehicle - splashed down in the Gulf of America during Monday's mission.
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This mission provides further research and confidence in the future for heavier payloads when transporting supplies and humans for missions and helps improve connectivity across the planet.