WORLD 🔗 Part of: The Science Horizon (21) · 25 Jul 2026 · 05:56 GMT ·1 min read

SpaceX Starship V3 Prototype Completes 13th Test Flight Amid Booster Landing Challenges

SpaceX launched its Starship V3 megarocket from Starbase, Texas, on July 24, 2026.

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SpaceX launched its Starship V3 megarocket from Starbase, Texas, on July 24, 2026. The vehicle reached space, where it successfully deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites and performed an in-space engine relight. While the upper stage achieved its softest splashdown to date in the Indian Ocean, the Super Heavy booster experienced landing burn issues, impacting the Gulf of Mexico faster than planned. The mission, delayed one day for weather, remains critical to NASA’s 2028 lunar landing goal.

Context

SpaceX has conducted a series of integrated test flights to develop the Starship launch system, a heavy-lift vehicle intended for future lunar missions.

Supportive perspectives

The Starship spacecraft successfully performed an in-space engine relight test of a single Raptor engine during the mission.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot stated on July 24, 2026, that the Starship splashdown in the Indian Ocean was the company's softest splashdown to date.
The mission successfully deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites during the coasting phase, and SpaceX confirmed successful communication with all 20 units.
The Starship heat shield, composed of ceramic tiles, successfully protected the vehicle during atmospheric reentry at speeds exceeding 20 times the speed of sound.

Critical perspectives

The Super Heavy booster experienced significant issues during its landing burn, failing to light all 13 planned engines and impacting the water in the Gulf of Mexico faster than intended, as reported by Space on July 24, 2026.
SpaceX shares have been trading below their IPO price following a recent aborted launch attempt, according to CNBC on July 24, 2026.
Technical teams were forced to replace six engines on the vehicle prior to the flight due to moisture-related ignition issues observed during a previous aborted launch attempt.
The 20 Starlink V3 satellites deployed during the mission were designed to burn up in the atmosphere approximately 20 minutes after deployment, the satellites were intended as short-duration test payloads rather than operational units.