Starship Reaches Orbit and Deploys Satellites; Booster Explodes in Pacific

SpaceX's Starship rocket has reached Earth orbit for the first time and successfully deployed Starlink satellites in space, as reported by Handelsblatt and the South China Morning Post.

Despite reaching orbit, the test mission was forced to end earlier than scheduled. According to Croatian newspaper Jutarnji list, the Super Heavy booster exploded on live stream immediately after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Further details regarding the cause of the explosion and the early conclusion of the mission have not yet been released.