Starship launches model satellites into orbit for the first time and tests new heat shielding

The company SpaceX successfully conducted the tenth test flight of its nadvazhkoi rocket Starship, successfully ignited in space in a series of mock-ups of satellites Starlink and tried out new heat-shielding tiles during the entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, Reuters reports.

The launch took place on 26 Serpnya about 19:30 for the U.S. Scheidnya time (02:30 in Kiev 27 Serpnya) from the launch maidanchik Starbase in Texas. The first stage, Super Heavy, separated three minutes after liftoff, taking the other stage, Starship, on a suborbital trajectory.

Half an hour after the launch, the rocket tested the satellite deployment system for the first time, which was nicknamed the “Pez dispenser” inside SpaceX. This is a key element for future commercial launches, as Starship is to become the backbone of the company’s space business and be used to launch large batches of Starlink satellites.

During its return, the vehicle passed through the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, where the new hexagonal heat shielding tiles withstood extreme temperatures. SpaceX aims to create a heat shield that does not require repair after each mission, which will be a breakthrough in rocketry.

After a controlled launch in the ocean, the Starship underwent a controlled explosion, which was provided for in the mission plan. Despite the destruction of the rocket, SpaceX called the launch a success, as it proved the operability of key technologies.

NASA Chief Executive Sean Duffy congratulated SpaceX on its progress and noted that this flight brings the Artemis 3 program closer to fruition, during which the Starship is to deliver astronauts to the Moon. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2027, although experts expect a possible postponement.

As a reminder, in March 2025, SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded during a test flight, the second consecutive failed attempt to launch it into orbit.

At the same time, the Super Heavy launch vehicle successfully returned to the launch pad, where it was “caught” by the Mechazilla tower for the third time.