Starship finally reached orbit — and dropped off 26 satellites on the way

On its 14th full test flight, the largest rocket ever built crossed the line its predecessors never had: orbit. Starship lit 33 Raptor engines over Texas, separated cleanly, and then opened its payload door to release 26 next-generation Starlink satellites — every one of which phoned home. "Starship is orbital," the launch team announced, to cheers. Three years of test flights, one giant leap toward the Moon and Mars.