SpaceX's Starship rocket reached orbit for the first time before its mission was ended early and the vehicle came down explosively in the Pacific, according to Sky News. The flight, reported on Monday, 28 September 2026, marked the first time the giant rocket circled Earth.
Sky News described the landing as explosive, and said the mission was cut short rather than run to completion. The Guardian reported cheers as the rocket orbited Earth for the first time, while CNN covered the flight as an unprecedented test. RTE.ie reported that Starship made orbit and deployed its first payload, and CNBC also reported that the rocket reached orbit for the first time.
The reports point to a mixed outcome: a first for the programme in reaching orbit and releasing a payload, alongside a mission that did not go the full distance and a landing that Sky News characterised as explosive. The available reports do not explain why the flight was ended early or what caused the landing to unfold as it did.
The coverage from Sky News, The Guardian, CNN, RTE.ie and CNBC agrees on the central achievement — Starship circling Earth — while differing in emphasis, with some outlets leading on the milestone and others on how the flight concluded.
What to watch next: whether SpaceX gives an account of why the mission ended early and what it says about the condition of the vehicle after the Pacific landing.
