SpaceX Starship lifts off from Texas for 13th test flight

• The 400-foot Starship rocket launched at 6:50 p.m. ET, with the upper stage reaching 16,400 mph before completing an hour-long suborbital mission ending with splashdown in the Indian Ocean
• The Super Heavy booster's return impact was harder than expected in the Gulf of Mexico, though it reignited more engines than the failed May test flight
• This is SpaceX's 13th Starship test since 2023, featuring a new version essential for expanding Starlink, landing humans on the moon for NASA, and deploying AI-processing satellite constellations

SpaceX Starship Completes 13th Test Flight with Mixed Results

Key Developments:

SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket on Friday, July 24, 2026, at approximately 6:50 p.m. ET from the company's Starbase facility in Texas. The 13th test flight since 2023 aimed to demonstrate critical capabilities, including the rocket's first suborbital deployment of new Starlink satellites.

Technical Performance:

The 400-foot-tall (122-meter) Starship system performed largely as planned, with the upper stage reaching speeds of 16,400 mph (26,400 kph) approximately 10 minutes into flight. The hour-long mission trajectory included reentry through Earth's atmosphere and a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

However, the Super Heavy booster experienced a harder-than-expected impact in the Gulf of Mexico during its return phase. SpaceX noted this was still an improvement over May's test flight, with more engines successfully reigniting during the descent.

Strategic Significance:

This test flight featured a new version of the rocket system crucial to SpaceX's broader ambitions, including:

• Expanding the Starlink satellite constellation
• Supporting NASA's lunar landing program for human missions
• Deploying thousands of AI-processing satellites in orbit

Market Context:

The test demonstrates continued progress in SpaceX's iterative development approach, though the booster landing issue indicates ongoing technical challenges. The successful satellite deployment capability marks a significant milestone for the company's commercial satellite operations and positions SpaceX to accelerate Starlink expansion and new AI satellite initiatives.