SpaceX launched Starship on its 13th test flight on Friday evening, the first since the company’s massive IPO, successfully deploying 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites while demonstrating further progress with its largest rocket.
“Deployment of 20 @Starlink V3 satellites complete. Today’s test will provide critical data as we prepare to expand our Starlink constellation,” SpaceX announced on X.
Deployment of 20 @Starlink V3 satellites complete. Today’s test will provide critical data as we prepare to expand our Starlink constellation pic.twitter.com/jWKLwXGlsk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 24, 2026
The Super Heavy booster separated about two minutes after liftoff but suffered engine relight failures before a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
Starship soared on the second flight of the next generation, deploying advanced Starlink satellites for the first time and providing priceless data as it travelled through air, space, and sea → https://t.co/Rp7VwBzpWx pic.twitter.com/vCYYKvGvDK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 25, 2026
Starship’s upper stage performed better, completing a soft landing in the Indian Ocean and remaining intact. This gave engineers their first detailed view of an undamaged heat shield after reentry.
“This is the softest splashdown we have ever had with the Starship there in the Indian Ocean,” Dan Huot, communications manager at SpaceX, said on a livestream, adding, “I’m a little over the moon right now. Wow. Lucky number 13. Hell of a great day for Starship.”Â
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the 13th flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/g27YJCQgiN
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 24, 2026
In a statement after the test flight, SpaceX said the booster landing “attempted to relight its engines for the landing burn,” but only a subset successfully ignited before the “hard splashdown,” adding that the upper stage of the rocket made a “soft splashdown” in the Indian Ocean. It noted that Starship came “to rest intact in the Indian Ocean and providing critical views of an intact heatshield for the first time.”
Latest coverage:
- SpaceX Reportedly Turns Away Falcon Customers As Starship Gamble Comes Into Focus
- SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Launch Scrubbed At The Last Second
SpaceX stock and bonds:
- SpaceX Rebounds From Near-50% Rout As Starship Launch Catalyst Nears
- SpaceX Shares Fall Below $135 IPO Price, But The Real Story Is Its Bonds
When will SpaceX hit bottom?
The test advances SpaceX’s plans to expand Starlink, develop orbital data centers and support NASA missions to the moon.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 07/25/2026 – 11:05
