SpaceX completes 13th Starship test flight, deploys 20 Starlink V3 satellites

SpaceX successfully launched its 13th integrated flight test of the Starship rocket system on July 24, 2026, from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, at approximately 5:52 p.m. Central Time (6:50 p.m. ET). The roughly 122-meter-tall vehicle lifted off on a suborbital trajectory, with stage separation occurring shortly after launch as planned.

The mission achieved multiple test objectives. The Super Heavy booster completed a controlled descent and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, though SpaceX noted the impact occurred with greater force than expected. The upper stage successfully deployed 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites approximately 20 minutes into the flight. These production satellites were the first Starlink units deployed by Starship; they extended solar arrays and antennae to attempt connection with the existing Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers before following the suborbital trajectory to demise during reentry. The upper stage also successfully reignited a single Raptor engine in space and performed a banking maneuver to simulate a future return and catch attempt at Starbase. After approximately one hour and five minutes of flight, the upper stage completed a controlled reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

The flight test marked the second deployment of the upgraded Version 3 Starship and Super Heavy vehicles, which first flew together in May 2026. The mission was originally scheduled for July 16 but faced two delays due to technical issues—including engine work on the Super Heavy booster following a launch abort on that date—and unfavorable weather conditions, including Tropical Storm Bertha.

The test provided critical data for SpaceX's plans to expand the Starlink constellation with direct-to-mobile connectivity capabilities and supports the company's broader objectives to enable routine orbital missions by year-end 2026. The mission also advances development toward NASA contracts for lunar landing support and long-term deployment of thousands of artificial intelligence-processing satellites in orbit. SpaceX stated it aims to begin routine Starship launches for commercial Starlink V3 satellite deployment by the end of 2026.