SpaceX successfully launched Starship Flight 13 from its Starbase facility in Texas, achieving an intact ocean splashdown of the upper stage and deploying 20 next-generation Starlink Version 3 satellites. Although an engine ignition failure during the Super Heavy booster landing led to a high-velocity splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, the test flight met its core objectives, validating Version 3 systems and acquiring more thermal protection data for future launch tower catch attempts.
The launch followed a pad abort the previous week caused by frozen moisture in the oxidizer turbopumps of six Super Heavy booster engines, which hindered their spin response. In response to recent tests, SpaceX introduced a new countdown hold at T-minus 60 seconds. This feature allows launch controllers to pause the countdown for up to eight minutes to monitor propellant temperatures and clear potential faults before ignition.
During the ascent, all 33 Raptor 3 engines on the Super Heavy booster ignited and powered the vehicle past maximum aerodynamic pressure, which was higher than any previous flight test. The pad infrastructure survived the liftoff thanks to a flame diverter system that pumps 650,000 gallons of water per minute to mitigate acoustic and thermal damage.
Following a hot stage separation, the booster executed a boost-back burn. However, it experienced a partial engine ignition failure during its final landing sequence, resulting in a higher-velocity, hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Starship upper stage reached its planned suborbital trajectory and executed several milestones. Engineers successfully relit a single sea-level Raptor engine in space for 14 seconds. This extended burn demonstrated the propulsion capabilities required for orbital insertion and deorbit manoeuvres on future missions.
The vehicle then deployed 20 operational Starlink Version 3 satellites. SpaceX confirmed that mission control established contact and laser communications with all 20 units before their planned demise 20 minutes later as they reentered the atmosphere. These upgraded satellites provide one terabit per second of downlink capacity and incorporate optical space lasers to form a high-speed mesh network. Six of the satellites utilized onboard cameras and flashlights to inspect the Starship heat shield in orbital darkness.
Watch Starship’s thirteenth flight test https://t.co/qkYYJiX24h — SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 23, 2026
During descent, the upper stage executed a swoosh manoeuvre over the Indian Ocean. This aerodynamic hook trajectory simulated the precise approach path required to eventually catch the vehicle at the launch tower. The ship survived hypersonic atmospheric reentry, travelling at roughly eight kilometres per second, and achieved a soft vertical splashdown. It remained floating and transmitted live video back to mission control. SpaceX said before the launch they would not recover the ship but with ti stull floating its fate is still unknown at the time of publication.
“This is a dream scenario for the team that’s trying to get this heat shield data,” Dan Hewitt, SpaceX communications manager, said during the webcast. “Normally, you’re working with a slightly charred starship in the water, and now we have one intact.”
The data gathered during Flight 13 will dictate the next phases for the Starship program. The company is preparing for its first attempt to catch the Starship upper stage at Launch Site 2 in Texas. This flight is an encouraging sign in trying to keep the timeline for NASA’s Artemis lunar program. A modified Starship will feature a nose-mounted docking port to test in-space rendezvous for the upcoming Artemis III mission.
Looking further ahead, SpaceX continues to develop plans for StarMind, its proposed satellite constellation of up to one million orbital artificial intelligence data centres. This network aims to overcome terrestrial power generation constraints by collecting near-constant solar energy. To support the infrastructure, the company is moving forward with TerraFab, a chip manufacturing initiative in Austin. To accommodate the necessary flight cadence for these future programs, SpaceX is currently upgrading launch infrastructure at pads 39A and 37A in Florida for Starship launches.
Now that SpaceX is a public company, it will report its first earnings on August 4. At that time we are sure to get some new updates on the progress of all its programs.